Post by acnedriver on Dec 14, 2022 7:03:08 GMT
A Stormont department has repaid more than £11,000 to a taxi driver after he successfully complained that he lost out on benefits due to poor advice.
He was temporarily unable to work after a car crash so he phoned a government support centre to claim benefits.
He was advised to apply for Universal Credit, but was not warned of the risk he could lose £54 a week in tax credit.
The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman upheld his complaint and said it amounted to "maladministration".
Margaret Kelly said the taxi driver suffered "injustice" because he had been denied the opportunity of making "a fully informed decision" about how his Universal Credit (UC) application would affect his existing benefits, in this instance his working tax credit.
Welfare campaigners said the case highlights how some people risk losing their entitlement to their existing social-security benefits when they apply for UC, even if their UC application is turned down.
He was temporarily unable to work after a car crash so he phoned a government support centre to claim benefits.
He was advised to apply for Universal Credit, but was not warned of the risk he could lose £54 a week in tax credit.
The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman upheld his complaint and said it amounted to "maladministration".
Margaret Kelly said the taxi driver suffered "injustice" because he had been denied the opportunity of making "a fully informed decision" about how his Universal Credit (UC) application would affect his existing benefits, in this instance his working tax credit.
Welfare campaigners said the case highlights how some people risk losing their entitlement to their existing social-security benefits when they apply for UC, even if their UC application is turned down.