The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about household support fund. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
The complaint
Miss X complained the Council did not deal with her application for the Household Support Fund (HSF) properly. She said that had resulted in her missing out on payments. She wants the Council to backpay the owed payments.
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 impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide: there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
In the Council’s complaint response to Miss X’s complaint, it said the HSF was released in different funding phases. It explained these phases had different restrictions and rules. It said Miss X had received the correct support in each phase. It said it was satisfied Miss X had received all the funding support she was entitled to.
We will not investigate this complaint further. The Council has confirmed it has considered Miss X’s eligibility in line with guidance. Therefore, there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
Final decision
We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman