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If you think the decision about your Housing or Council Tax Benefit is wrong
The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Decision and Appeals) Regulations 2001 state that any 'person affected' by a relevant decision can ask the Council to revise its decision. It also states that a person affected can appeal against the Council's decision to an independent appeal tribunal.
A relevant decision is any matter concerning a claim for benefit, for example: the rent eligible for benefits the calculation of income, the benefits start date or the calculation and recovery of an overpayment. Some decisions, mainly administrative decisions, do not carry a right of appeal. You will be notified if the matter you are disputing does not carry the right of appeal.
A request for a revision means that the Council will look again at its decision regarding a claim for benefit and will make sure that it has been done correctly.
An appeal means that a Tribunal, independent of the Council and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), will consider the Council's decision.
Who is a Person Affected?
A person affected is: -
- A claimant
- Someone acting on behalf of the claimant who is appointed by the Courts
- Someone who the Council agrees is appointed to act on behalf of the claimant
- A landlord - but only in matters relating to whom payment of Benefit is to be made
- An agent - but only in matters relating to whom payment of Benefit is to be made
- Any person from whom, it is determined, an overpayment is to be recovered
This means that only the claimant can ask the Council to revise a decision concerning the calculation of a claimant's entitlement; and that the landlord or agent can only ask the Council to revise a decision about whether payment should be made to a landlord and whether the decision to recover an overpayment from a landlord or agent has been correctly made.
What should someone do if they are not happy with the Council's decision?
A person affected can query the Council's decision and request further information about the decision. The Council will give the person an explanation, sometimes over the phone. If they are still not happy they can appeal or request a revision of the Council's decision. The claimant's authority will be needed before any information can be given to a landlord or agent.
How Do I Request A Revision?
The affected person must write to the Council within one calendar month of the date on the notification letter.
In exceptional circumstances the Council will extend the time limit for requesting a decision to be revised. The person affected must include the reasons for not requesting a revision at the appropriate time. A late request for a revision which is made 13 months after the decision notice was first issued will not be accepted.
Will the Council notify the person of the outcome of a request for a revision?
After reconsidering its decision the Council will write to the person affected stating that the decision has been changed or that it will stay the same. The Council may request further information from the person affected before it makes a final decision. The person must provide the information within one month of the request.
Statement of Reasons
A person affected can ask the Council to provide a written Statement of Reasons. The Statement of Reasons does not affect your right of an appeal. The statement will explain how the Council reached its decision. The time taken for the Council to provide the statement may extend the time limit for requesting a revision or seeking an appeal to the Tribunal.
How does a person ask the Appeal Tribunal to look at the Council's decision?
A person affected by a decision may request that the Appeals Tribunal consider the Council's decision. The request must be in writing and must be received by the Council within one month of the date on the decision notification letter.
Where the person affected previously requested that the Council revise its decision, and has received a reply from the Council regarding the request, the person has one month from the date the Council notified the outcome of the request to ask for their case to be considered by the Appeals Tribunal.
In exceptional circumstances the time limit for requesting an appeal can be extended. The person affected must write to the Council giving grounds for not appealing at the appropriate time. A request for an extension of the time limit will not be considered if it is made more than 13 months after the notice of decision was issued.
Will the person have to attend the Tribunal?
Tribunals are held locally. The Tribunals Service will write to the person to tell them of the date, time and place of their hearing. They will also be asked if they want to attend or whether they would prefer the Tribunal to consider their case without them being present, this is called a 'paper hearing'.
In most cases the Tribunal will consist of only one panel member who is a legally qualified person. If, however, complicated financial matters are to be considered a financially qualified person will also be present. The Clerk to the Tribunal and the Council's representative may also be present.
What if I am not happy with the Tribunal's decision?
If the Council or the person affected feels that the decision of the Appeal Tribunal is wrong in law they can seek leave to appeal to the Social Security Commissioners. There is further information held on the website for Social Security, Child Support and Pensions Appeal Commissioners - the link to this website is under external links at the right of this page.
Further Information
If you have any further questions regarding appeals you can contact the Benefits office as shown on the internal links on the right of this page.
Associated documents:
Please click here for a Housing or Council Tax Benefit Appeals booklet (0.09 MB)
