Adjudicator's Office Explained

Type:non-departmental public body
Leader Title:The Adjudicator
Leader Name:Helen Megarry

The Adjudicator’s Office is a UK non-departmental public body which was set up in 1993, initially to look into complaints about the Inland Revenue (including the Valuation Office Agency). HM Customs and Excise and the Contributions Agency joined in 1995. From 2003 the office also took on complaints about The Insolvency Service. In April 2005, the role continued in relation to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which was formed by the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.[1]

In March 2015, the Adjudicator was asked to become the independent reviewer for complaints about HM Treasury, Pension Wise. There were no complaints from Pension Wise during its first year. Following the move of Pension Wise to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), from 1 April 2016, Pension Wise complaints have been considered by DWP. The Insolvency Service took its investigation of complaints in house in early 2016–17.[2]

In relation to the Home Office, the adjudicator will review a Windrush Compensation Scheme decision or the conduct of a compensation claim on request.[3]

The Adjudicator is an independent appointment agreed by the organisations for which she adjudicates.[4]

List of adjudicators

Further Information

Notes and References

  1. Adjudicator’s Office, The Adjudicator’s Office 2016 Annual Report is published today, published 12 July 2016, accessed 25 September 2016
  2. Adjudicator’s Office, The Adjudicator’s Office 2017 Annual Report is published today, accessed 26 August 2017
  3. Adjudicator’s Office, Ask the Adjudicator’s Office to review a Windrush Compensation Scheme decision, published 18 December 2019, accessed 14 April 2024
  4. Adjudicator's Office, Annual Report 2014-15, accessed 25 September 2016
  5. News: Dame Barbara Mills: Barrister who became the first female Director of. https://web.archive.org/web/20110608213625/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dame-barbara-mills-barrister-who-became-the-first-female-director-of-public-prosecutions-2293817.html . 2011-06-08 . limited . live. 2011-06-07. The Independent. 2017-05-17. en-GB.
  6. Adjudicator’s Office, The Adjudicator’s Office 2016 Annual Report is published today, published 12 July 2016, accessed 25 September 2016