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Appeal a benefits decision

When we receive your completed application we will calculate the information and issue you with a decision letter. If you disagree with the decision which has been made you can:

Ask for further explanation
Ask us to reconsider
Appeal the decision

Ask for further explanation

Within one calendar month of receiving the decision notice you can request an explanation of how the decision was reached.

Dispute a benefits decision form

If you ask us for more information after this time, we will still explain the decision to you but we may not be able to look at the decision again if you later decide that it is wrong.

Ask us to reconsider

If you are still unhappy after receiving more information you can request your application is reconsidered within a month.

Your application will be reviewed by a senior assessor who will check that your application was correctly assessed and make any necessary changes.

If you receive a new decision notice and you still disagree you will need to begin the disputing process again by asking for further explanation.

Appeal the decision

If you think our decision is wrong you can ask us to pass your case to an independent appeal tribunal.

Complete and return:

Benefits appeal form

Once we have received your appeal form we will arrange a hearing where you will have the opportunity to state why you disagree with the decision and provide any relevant evidence. We will detail our decision and explain how the decision was reached.

The tribunal will then make a decision about the applicants' entitlement. This decision must be honoured by both the Council and the applicant.

For more information about challenging a benefits decision contact the benefits team online or call 01993 861030