Website: www.dwp.gov.uk 

Your Reference: FOI 606 

Date: 11 February 2014. 

Dear 

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 8 February 2014. You 
asked: 

“In light of the Bolton Upper Tribunal decision Ref: CH0140/2013 followed recently in 
the Monmouthshire First Tier Tribunal Ref: SC992/13/05323, can you confirm 
whether the DWP intends to appeal the UT decision relating to bedroom definition for 

the purposes of the Housing Benefit regulations on the bedroom tax”. 

Whilst DWP does not agree with all the argument set out in this particular 
case there is no intention to appeal the Bolton Upper Tribunal decision 
reference CH0140/2013 as the actual outcome was correct. 

In relation to the Monmouth First-tier Tribunal decision the local authority has 
not yet forwarded details to the Department. 

Local authorities have been advised in Bulletin U7/2013 to notify the 
Department of any first tier tribunal decision on the removal of the spare room 
subsidy, and once this information is received the Department will consider its 
position. 

Yours sincerely 

DWP FOI Central Information Team. 

Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 


If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing 
freedom-of-information-request@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, 
Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two 
months of the date of this letter. 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the 

Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a 

decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information 

Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, 

Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk