Example
Ms C applied for a community care grant for a number of household items including a bed, white goods and flooring. She and her teenage daughter were living in temporary accommodation but had been found a new, unfurnished tenancy. The applicant worked part time, 16 hours per week, for which she received the minimum wage. This work also enabled her to qualify for Working Tax Credits (WTC).
The council refused the application based on an assessment that Ms C did not meet the low income requirements for a community care grant award as set out in the SWF Guidance, noting that she did not receive one of the qualifying income replacement benefits such as Income Support or Universal Credit, and that her income was not equivalent to someone in receipt of those benefits. They upheld this decision at first tier.
Ms C applied for an independent review of the council’s decision. We requested the council’s case file and spoke with the applicant for further information. We acknowledged that due to working part time, and receiving Working Tax Credits (WTC) that applicant has a higher weekly income that someone on receipt of the minimum benefits income. However, we also noted that the applicant met three of the low income indicators outlined in s8.25 of the guidance: she was paid the minimum wage for her work; she was in receipt of other benefits including Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credits and WTC; and lastly she had been experiencing homelessness at the point of application. Despite having more income than some applicants to the SWF, we were satisfied that the applicant does meets the condition of being on a low income. We assessed the applicant met the qualifying condition relating to homelessness as she was in receipt of tenancy support, and had a number of vulnerabilities relating to substance and alcohol abuse, as well as being a single parent. Lastly, we assess the items applied for met the councils low priority rating and instructed the council to award flooring for the living room; a single bed and bedding; a washing machine; and a cooker and crockery. We provided feedback to the council that the guidance had not been followed in relation to assessing income, and that their decision letters lacked key pieces of information.