Be Wise case study: Housing Benefit
Peter and Keith, a mixed-age couple, recently found themselves facing a significant financial crisis due to an incorrect Housing Benefit (HB) decision by their Local Authority. They have been claiming Pension Credit for the last 10 years and shortly after relocating, they applied for HB. This was denied by the council as they felt the couple should make a Universal Credit (UC) claim as Keith was of working age. The council’s decision triggered a period of worry and uncertainty for Peter and Keith. The transition to UC would have meant a drastic reduction in their income, causing potential financial instability and emotional distress. Peter and Keith sought help from Be Wise on their local manager’s advice. With Peter’s consent, the Be Wise advisor contacted the council to discuss the issue on their behalf. An email was sent to the council’s benefits department the same day, requesting a revision of their decision and emphasising the need to consider protections for long-term Pension Credit claimants like Peter and Keith. The council responded promptly to our request and less than a week later, they had revised their decision and awarded £137.42 per week in HB to Peter and Keith. This amount was backdated to the day they moved in, ensuring they did not lose out on benefits they were entitled to. They said to the advisor “We would like to thank the advisor for helping us both with our claim for Housing Benefit. We had a few problems with our claim but Be Wise stepped in and got on with our case, so it was rectified straight away. The advisor was very professional and a good listener. We would like to thank the Be Wise team for all their help.”
Be Wise highlights from 2022-23:
23,000 calls handled
3,300 cases opened
Average of £4,900 gained by residents in income or savings
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