The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to award Discretionary Housing Payments. This is because the Council reviewed and changed its decision during our consideration of the complaint.
The complaint
The complainant, whom I refer to as Miss X, complains the Council failed to properly consider her individual circumstances when refusing to award her Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP).
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Miss X and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
During our consideration of Miss X’s complaint, the Council responded to her request for a review of her application. It changed its original decision after reassessing evidence already submitted and considering new information about her circumstances.
It agreed to award DHP to Miss X and emailed her a letter to formally confirm this.
We will not investigate this because the Council remedied the matter after her complaint to us, and there is nothing further for the Ombudsman to achieve.
Final decision
We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because the Council resolved the matter during our consideration of her complaint.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman