Overview
The complainant, Mr C, raised a number of concerns about the way in which Glasgow City Council (the Council) dealt with Mr A's application for Housing and Council Tax Benefit.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that:
- (a) Mr A's claim for Housing and Council Tax Benefit made in January 2006 was not processed until July 2006 (upheld);
- (b) payment was not received until 2 August 2006 (partially upheld);
- (c) the Council wrongly denied that they were aware that Mr A was suffering distress as a consequence of their delay (upheld); and
- (d) a change of circumstances reported to the Council in August 2006 was not processed until November 2006 (not upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Council consider favourably any reasonable claim for out of pocket expenses that Mr A may make and apologise to him for their failure to recognise his distress and for their delay in determining his claim.
The Council have accepted the recommendations and acted on them accordingly.