In each case a lodger had formed a relationship with his landlady, and had had moved to take up occupation with her, but after the relationship came to an end reverted to his status as lodger, and moved back to his for accommodation within the house. The rules provide that Housing Benefit is not payable … Continue reading Regina (Painter) v Carmarthenshire County Council Housing Benefit Review Board; Regina (Murphy) v Westminster City Council and Others: QBD 16 May 2001
Genuine but voluntary poverty adopted as part of religious discipline and mode of life did not disentitle the claimant from applying for housing benefit. Citations: Times 23-Apr-1998, Gazette 13-May-1998 Statutes: Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 (No 1971) 7(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Benefits Updated: 11 May 2022; Ref: scu.88126
Elders of a Christian Community were required to contribute to the costs of the accommodation in a home shared by all occupants, even though they occupied only part of the home, and claimed housing benefit. It was held that they were entitled to claim, even though they had no direct liability for the rent. The … Continue reading Milton Keynes Housing Benefit Review Board v Saxby: CA 3 Apr 2001
Board may look at all terms of arrangement to see if ‘on commercial basis’. Citations: Times 28-Dec-1994 Statutes: Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 (1987 No 1971) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Benefits Updated: 07 April 2022; Ref: scu.88011
The claimant had sought housing benefits, but his claim was rejected by the respondents who said that he was not liable to make the payments. He argued that the decision was not made by an impartial tribunal since it was held by councillors from the authority which would benefit financially from the refusal of the … Continue reading Bewry, Regina (On the Application of) v Norwich City Council: Admn 31 Jul 2001
A Local Authority could reclaim overpaid Housing Benefits even though it had failed to follow precisely the required procedures for such a recovery, provided that it could demonstrate that the failing was immaterial, and that the failure caused the defendant no injustice. Judges: Rich, Otton, Pill LJJ Citations: Times 03-Jun-1999, [1999] EWCA Civ 1491, (2000) … Continue reading Haringey London Borough Council v Awaritefe, Secretary of State for Social Security Intervening: CA 3 Jun 1999
The appellant was accused of having received income benefits to which he was not entitled. A prosecution was commenced and at the same time he appealed to the tribunal against the decision that there had been an overpayment. The authorities requested an adjournment pending the outcome of the criminal trial. The tribunal refused it. The … Continue reading Mote v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Another: CA 14 Dec 2007
Where a local authority, having paid housing benefit in excess to a landlord, sought to recover that excess from him, it could not do so otherwise than in accordance with the regulations which provided for this. It was not open to the authority to deduct any overpayment from later payments, and if it did so, … Continue reading Jones v Waveney District Council: CA 17 Dec 1999
The payment of water rates was not part of the obligation of a local authority paying housing benefit paid by the tenant to the water supplier. Water rates were not paid by her ‘in respect of, or in consequence of, use and occupation of the dwelling’ At common law a person in occupation of land … Continue reading Regina v Bristol City Council, Ex Parte Jacobs: QBD 16 Nov 1999
The 1987 Regulations provided additional benefits for disabled persons, but excluded from benefit those who had nowhere to sleep. The claimant said this was irrational. He had been receiving the disability premium to his benefits, but this was cancelled when he lost his home. Held: The appeal was dismissed. The disabilty premium, as part of … Continue reading RJM, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: HL 22 Oct 2008
The applicants were self-employed market traders. Their income was low, but they were unable to produce accounts by way of proof. The local authority declined their application for housing benefit in the absence of such proof. They complained that presence of local councillors on the committee which made the decision, made that not an independent … Continue reading Bono, Regina (on the Application of) v Harlow District Council: Admn 15 Mar 2002
Wrongful Refusal of Benefits The claimant was estranged from his family, but claimed re-imbursement of the expenses for his brother’s funeral. The respondent required him to establish that none of his siblings was in a better position than he to pay for the funeral, but he had no means of contacting them. Held: Deciding a … Continue reading Kerr v Department for Social Development (Northern Ireland): HL 6 May 2004
The claimant appealed refusal of her claim for arrears of housing benefit. Held: The appeal was allowed. The claim had been defective in having been made informally, but ‘the distribution of benefits is different from many other areas of civil law. It is concerned not simply with recognising rights or enforcing liabilities but also with … Continue reading Novitskaya v London Borough of Brent and Another: CA 1 Dec 2009
The claimant had been in receipt of housing benefit. He had gone into a care home on a temporary trial basis. The council ceased to pay his benefit immediately. Held: The benefit continued during the thirteen week trial period. The claimant had to maintain his home for so long as the residence remained a trial … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Selby District Council and Another: CA 13 Feb 2006
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