Summary: Mr X complains that the Council says it paid him benefits in 2015 which he denies. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because this matter is out of time.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council says it paid him benefits in 2015 which he denies.

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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 have considered the complainant's comments and Mr X has commented on the draft decision.

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What I found

4. Mr X says that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) told him in 2015 that he was paid benefits from the Council. He says he never lived in that borough.
5. I see no reason why Mr X could not have complained to this office within 12 months of the DWP’s statement. The matter is therefore out of jurisdiction.

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Final decision

6. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint because the matter is out of time.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman