Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to award a discretionary Household Support Fund payment. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained about the Council’s rejection of her latest application to the Council’s Household Support Fund. She says she needed assistance with paying for essentials for her family.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints of injustice caused by ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’. I have used the word fault to refer to these. We consider whether there was fault in the way an organisation made its decision. If there was no fault in how the organisation made its decision, we cannot question the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

3. I considered the information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

5. Miss X applied to the Council’s Household Support Fund which is a discretionary assistance scheme for short term support to people who are in a crisis, emergency or major disaster situation. It doesn't offer cash payments but help with immediate needs and with essential items such as a referral for baby milk, nappies or food and help with emergency supply of gas or electric where there is no heating in the household. It may also give advice and referrals to another service, agency or fund.
6. The Council rejected Miss X’s latest application because it says she has not provided sufficient evidence of bank cash transactions which is a requirement of the fund. It says she has made 9 applications to the scheme in 12 months and it is not intended as a long-term supplement to existing benefits.
7. Miss X complained to the Council about the decision. The complaint was not upheld because the Council says she has been advised about the requirements of the scheme previously and that it may be refused in future. The scheme is discretionary and each application is considered on its merits. The Council must decide which applications to accept based on priority need and on the application criteria.
8. When considering complaints, we may not question the merits of the decision the Council has made or offer any opinion on whether or not we agree with the judgment of the Councils’ officers or members when there is no fault. This means we will not intervene in disagreements about the merits of decisions.

Back to top

Final decision

9. We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to award a discretionary Household Support Fund payment. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman