Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the support the Council is providing to Ms X with her finances. It is not likely we would find any fault with how the Council’s was supporting her.

The complaint

1. Ms X complained the Council were responsible for financially abusing her and was responsible for fraud. Ms X said the Council should apologise.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council and I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. Ms X said the Council was responsible for financial abuse. The Council provided me with information, which shows, in July 2025, it met with Ms X and completed an assessment on how she was accessing social security benefits. After this it agreed to become an appointee, to support Ms X with her benefit payments.
5. Based upon the evidence I have seen, including the information it considered, and the involvement of other statutory agencies, it is unlikely I would find anything wrong in how the Council was supporting Ms X.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is unlikely we would find fault.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman