Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council failed to provide financial support to her between 2011 and 2016 when she began caring for a child family member and obtained a Residence Order. This is because the complaint is late, and there are no good reasons Mrs X could not have complained sooner.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her with financial support between 2011 and 2016 when she began caring for a child family member, Y, and obtained a Residence Order.
2. Mrs X says the matter has impacted on her financially.
3. Mrs X wants the Council to pay a back-dated payment for her care of Y.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. 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

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

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My assessment

7. We will not investigate this complaint. Mrs X asked the Council for information and advice about financial support in 2013. She asked again in 2016 and complained to the Council about the matter in both 2018 and in 2024.
8. The law says we cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Mrs X complained to the Ombudsman in late June 2024. The period complained about happened approximately between 2011 and 2016. I have seen no good reasons Mrs X could not have complained to the Ombudsman sooner. Therefore, we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is late, and there are no good reasons to investigate now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman