If you do not understand your Housing Benefit decision
If there is anything you do not understand about your Housing Benefit decision you can ask us to provide you with a written statement. You can request a further explanation by sending us an email, identifying the decision and the reason for the request. This request must be received by the Benefits Service within one month of the date of the decision notice.
If you think there has been a mistake with your Housing Benefit decision
If you think there has been a mistake or that our decision is wrong, then you can ask for the Housing Benefit decision to be reconsidered. This request must be received by the Benefits Service within one month of the date of the decision. You can request a further explanation by sending us an email, identifying the decision and the reason why you disagree with the decision.
We will look again at the decision, consider your views and decide if the decision is correct. We will advise you of the outcome by letter. This letter is called a decision notice. Please read the notification very carefully as it will explain the decision.
If you still don’t agree with the Housing Benefit decision, you have the right to appeal to an independent organisation called the Tribunals Service. This appeal must be made within one month of the date of the decision notice. If you wish to do this, but cannot do so within the month, let us know straight away and ask for the appeal period to be extended.
Before appealing you may wish to seek further independent advice from, for example, the Citizens Advice Bureau. If this takes longer than one month, then the appeal period may be extended.
Your appeal must be made to us in writing and signed. State why you think the decision is wrong and the grounds for your appeal.
We will prepare paperwork explaining the decision and send this to the Tribunals Service together with your letter of appeal. A copy of all this paperwork will be sent to you.
You can ask to put your case across in person, by attending a hearing, or you can ask for a decision based on the written representations. If you ask for a hearing you can claim reasonable travelling expenses for yourself and any representative, and in some circumstances claim for loss of earnings and subsistence.
There are some decisions that the law says you cannot appeal against. If your appeal cannot continue for any reason the Tribunals Service will write to you.