Michael King

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Some of the families developed and pushed to homelessness, says the because of errors in the system, to have a roof over your head, a watchdog.

The Local government Ombudsman noted that some local authorities in England were erroneous assessment of housing benefit payments, and the limitation of the possibilities of appeal.

There were eight out of 10 of The Hundreds of complaints they investigated, about the benefits in 2018-19.

city hall leaders said The Report raises some important questions.

He also said that the financing of the councils to manage the living fell money short of its true cost.

Michael King , The Local government and the Social care Ombudsman, said: "errors in the management can be of use to the loads of the households are confronted with.

"can be given A delay in the processing instead of an appeal later, lead to rising rent arrears.

"Many of the people we have to deal with The Threat of losing their homes. "

In one example, a Young Family with a disabled child, to leave her London home after a miscalculation from your accommodation you will benefit from Haringey Council.

threatening letters

the detailed report of The said compliance with The Family complaint: "had lived in a single-parent family, in private rented housing, but were asked to leave, told by their landlords, if The Council is wrong, to him, The Family owed More Than £8,000 in retroactive benefits.

"had to stay in The Family , the put in unsuitable accommodation while The Council its error and recalculation of The Mother the correct permission.

"The Council has also agreed to pay The Woman £1,000 for the distress caused, with a Further £1. 300 realize that they incurred costs in non-suitable accommodation for six months and € 500 for the memory for you, if you had to leave your rental property. "

The Ombudsman also pointed to the story of A Man left in limbo for two years, not knowing the amount of support that he should receive and how much The Council would pursue him for.

A simple administrative error, coupled with an inability to update records meant that The Council couldn't figure out why it had to be a lot of money to live on.

All the while they, the letters, The Threat of recovery action every two weeks.

remedies

in total, the Ombudsman received 491 complaints in 2018-19 and carried out detailed investigations in the 74.

the problems highlighted by the Ombudsman, the councils include prevent families from difficult decisions about the interpretation of rules to appeals to literally.

the applicant, the controversial a-housing-benefit-decision, but the word "review" or "appeal" in your communication, for example, should not be prevented from appealing, the Ombudsman said.

Ordinary plaintiff could not be expected to be experts in the intricacies of housing legislation.

In addition, some councils have been back have been produced, belongs to overpayments, which was prior to the one-month period for objections, or before appeals.

And other failed cases of controversial decisions, the relevant social-security-tribunal.

A Local Government Association spokesman said, as well as a lack of funding, hospitals benefit more under pressure and the uncertainty about the social reforms and the introduction of the all-in-one, universal credit. This had also stretched councils " revenues and benefits services.

"It is important that the government recognises the ongoing role of the councils in the administration of housing benefit and promotion of the claimants [and] offers an appropriate, timely promotion, in order to guarantee the councils, this is the role that the councils are able to the finest, most accurate service that you can," he added.

homelessness, local government, housing benefit

Source of news: bbc.com