Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a housing benefit decision and appeal. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons for this.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains on behalf of his brother Mr Y that the Council unfairly refused to pay housing benefit from March 2018. He also complains the Council then denied Mr Y a tribunal hearing when he appealed, and failed to respond to complaints about the matter.

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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. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

4. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late. Mr X complained to the Ombudsman in February 2026 about matters that Mr Y was aware of from 2018. Mr Y was also aware of the claimed delay in progressing the appeal from 2021. Although Mr Y’s circumstances may have made it difficult for him to complain between 2019 and 2022, he could have approached us sooner. I note Mr X had the support of representatives in 2021, and so it was reasonable to except him to complain to the Ombudsman earlier.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman