[2025] UKUT 337 (AAC)

The Applicant local authority (from now on, simply “the LA”) applies for permission to appeal against the decision of the First-tier Tribunal (“the FTT”). The FTT had allowed the claimant’s appeal against the LA’s decision that she was subject to a recoverable overpayment of housing benefit (“HB”). The LA’s application for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal is late so it applies for an extension of time. It also requests an oral hearing. For the reasons that follow, I refuse the LA’s application for an extension of time and refuse the request for an oral hearing. Furthermore, even if time were to be extended to admit the late application, I would have refused permission to appeal. The net result is that the FTT’s decision stands.