Example
C asked for an independent review of the council’s decision to refuse their application for a community care grant. C applied for a number of items to set up their new tenancy. In their application they stated that they were in receipt of a low income and could not afford to furnish their home.
The council refused the application on the basis that they assessed C's circumstances did not meet any of the qualifying criteria for an award. C asked the council to reconsider their decision but the council upheld their original decision.
We received the council’s file and spoke to C for further information. C told us that they wanted to move out of the family home to have privacy and their own space.
We agreed with the council that the applicant was not facing an exceptional degree of pressure, and that the pressure faced was largely linked to being on a low income alone. We did not uphold the review request but provided the council with feedback that they missed the original decision making target.