Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council failed to provide adequate advice around funding for the care of her late husband. This is because the complaint is made late.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains that the Council failed to provide her and their late husband (Z) with adequate advice around the funding of Z’s care in late 2024 and early 2025.

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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 the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. I will not investigate X’s complaint because the issues raised happened too long ago and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider them now.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman