London Borough of Newham (24 023 292)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 26-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to backdate a Special Guardianship allowance. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation and investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Oxfordshire County Council (24 006 775)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 26-Jun-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council wrongly deducted child benefit from her Special Guardianship Allowance. We did not uphold the complaint. The Council is entitled to carry out a means test because Mrs X receives additional income as well as universal credit. There is no blanket policy as the Council has invited her to provide information about her outgoings and financial commitments. This is in line with regulations and so there is no fault.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 005 990)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 22-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the delay in providing information as there is no significant outcome we would achieve. It is reasonable to expect her to apply to Court for an order to be enforced.

Nottingham City Council (25 000 640)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 16-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about treatment from social services during a Special Guardianship Order. This is because parts of the complaint are late, and we there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to investigate Miss X’s complaint. Additionally, parts of the complaint relate to matters which a court considered and it’s reasonable to have expected these matters to be raised at court at the time.

Salford City Council (24 023 262)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 08-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that he was incorrectly advised by the Council to seek a Parental Responsibility Order. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion now.

London Borough of Croydon (24 010 929)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 05-Jun-2025

Summary: Miss B complained that the Council had failed to properly consult her or provide sufficient support when a relative (E) lived with her for three months. It also delayed in responding to her complaint about the matter. We found the Council should have contacted Miss B when it was aware E was living there, to discuss the arrangements and offer support. The failure to do so caused Miss B distress and financial hardship. The Council has agreed to apologise and pay her an additional £250.

Redcar & Cleveland Council (24 022 860)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Friends and family carers 28-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of matters involving her stepchild. We could not add to the complaint responses the Council has already provided. The Information Commissioner’s Office is better placed to consider Miss X’s complaints about how the Council has processed personal data.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (24 003 172)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 27-May-2025

Summary: The Council was not at fault for how it calculated Mrs X’s special guardianship allowance. The deductions it made from the allowance were consistent with current government guidance.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (24 012 072)

Statement Upheld Friends and family carers 19-May-2025

Summary: Miss D complained that the Council delayed progressing grant-funded adaptations to her home. As a result, her family has been overcrowded for over four years. The Council has accepted there was delay. It has agreed to make a payment to Miss D to remedy the distress caused.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (24 011 358)

Statement Not upheld Friends and family carers 18-May-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council incorrectly deducted the value of benefits she claimed from payments it made to her for caring for two children under a residency order between 2010 and 2019. We ended the investigation because Ms X’s complaint was late and there was insufficient evidence of fault to justify investigating.