ePetition - BEDROOM TAX. DLA, AND DISCRETIONARY HOUSING PAYMENTS

On 30 March this year MR JUSTICE PHILLIPS ruled in the High Court that it is unlawful for a local authority to take into account income Disability Living Allowance when assessing the amount of a discretionary housing payment (DHP). The specific case in this ruling relates to DHP to cover extra costs arising from the “Bedroom Tax”. (Hardy versus Sandwell Borough Council, Case No: CO/16824/2013)

Brighton and Hove City Council, in a clear breach of its Public sector equality duty (“PSED”), pursued the same policy as Sandwell prior to the Judgment by Mr Justice Phillips.

This illegal policy was pointed out to the Council in November 2013 but officers and councillors refused to act. They now do not have a choice and must carry out a review of all case decisions relating to DLA, Discretionary Housing Payments, and the Bedroom Tax. Appropriate payments need to be backdated and apologies made to those residents involved.

I emailed the BHCC Chief Executive, the Chair of Housing, the three Councillors in my Ward (Queens Park), and the senior officer responsible for the illegal decision On 17 April. I have not even received an acknowledgement.

This ePetition ran from 21/05/2015 to 08/07/2015 and has now finished.

125 people signed this ePetition.