When we have dealt with your claim for benefit we will send you a decision letter. The letter shows the information we have used to work out your benefit and you should check it carefully.

If you disagree with the decision made you can ask us to look at the decision again if you want us to, and we will make sure that it is not the same decision maker that made the original decision who looks at your claim again.

You must tell us why you think the decision is wrong or needs to be changed. You must also do this within one month of the date of the decision letter we sent you.

If your request is made more than one month after the date of the decision letter we sent you, you should give your reasons as to why it was late. If the delay is reasonable we can still consider your request. If more than 13 months have gone by since we made the decision then it cannot be changed.

You can appeal against the decision. You must sign the appeal and you must state clearly your grounds for the appeal, stating why the decision is incorrect.
You must do this within one month of the date of the decision letter.

If your appeal is made more than one month after the date of the decision letter, you must state why.
The Tribunal Service will decide if they can accept your late appeal.

You will have the opportunity to request either a paper or an oral hearing, however we always request oral hearings.

The Tribunal Service are administered by The Department of Constitutional Affairs and are independent from us.

You can approach the Citizens Advice Bureau, Shelter or a solicitor. You can even ask a friend or relative but make sure they are familiar with the law that governs Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

The Tribunal Service will arrange a mutually convenient date where the appeal hearing will take place.

The Tribunals Service have their own internet website at http://www.appeals-service.gov.uk/