Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s financial assessment after his mother went into a care home. This is because his complaint is late and we have seen no good reason why he could not have complained to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains for his mother, Mrs Y. He says the Council should apply a property disregard to her property. He also says the Council should remove the Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) on the property.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council carried out a financial assessment after Mrs Y went into a care home in 2018. The Council assessed her home as a chargeable asset. The DPA was also entered into in 2018. Mr X disputes the Council’s financial assessment of 2018.
6. Mr X complained to us in 2025. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and we have seen no good reason why he could not have complained to us sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and we have seen no good reason why he could not have complained to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman