Example
Ms C applied for a community care grant for a number of household items. She and her family had moved into a tenancy of their own following a period of homelessness.
The council assessed that Ms C's application met the eligibility criteria and qualifying criteria for an award and awarded the items they assessed that met high priority. They did not award flooring for the kitchen, bathroom, hall or stair as they assessed these items did not meet high priority. They did not change their decision following Ms C’s first tier review request.
Ms C asked SPSO for an independent review of the council's decision. We received the council’s file, and contacted Ms C to discuss the case. She told us that her daughter was living with her grandmother as she was unable to move into the new property due to her asthma. This was due to the dust caused by bare floorboards and lack of flooring in the areas under review. We sought confirmation from Ms C's GP about her daughter's asthma and the impact lack of flooring in these areas would have on her condition. Ms C's GP confirmed that her daughter suffers from asthma and that in their opinion, dust and lack of flooring would worsen the condition. As a result, we assessed that on the basis of this new information, the items requested met high priority in line with 5.6 to 5.7 of the guidance and upheld Ms C's review request.