Example
Mr C applied for a crisis grant for gas and electricity after losing money. He stated that he had a particular need for electricity to store his medication.
The council noted that the applicant had previously been awarded for lost money and declined the application as they cannot provide continuous assistance, and he had been offered advice about safeguarding his money. Following the applicant's first tier review request the council upheld their original decision.
The applicant then applied for an independent review of the decision. We considered the particular facts and circumstances of the case. We noted that while this was his fourth application for lost money, only one of these was in the last year and could be considered recent, and therefore disagreed that continuous assistance was being provided (Annex A, point 15 of the guidance). We also noted that how the situation came about is not relevant in line with the guidance (s7.26); and that the applicant had severe epilepsy, which may have contributed to him losing money. We instructed the council to make an award, and also provided feedback that the original decision letter and case notes did not meet the requirements of the guidance.