Challenge a benefit decision

How you can challenge a Housing Benefit decision

You can ask for an explanation

You need to do this within a month of the decision being issued.

You can ask us to look at it again (a revision)

You need to tell us why you think the decision is wrong, and you have to do it within a month of the decision. If you asked for an explanation, you have a month from the date of the decision, plus the time it took us to provide the explanation.

You can appeal

You need to do this within a month of the decision (or longer if you asked for an explanation first), or within a month of any decision about a request to look at a decision again (a revision). We will look at everything again, but if we still cannot agree, we will send your appeal to an independent tribunal. Once the tribunal receive your appeal, they will arrange a hearing to consider it. You will be given the option of attending. Otherwise, the tribunal will look at what you have said in your appeal and what we have said as well.

How you can challenge a Council Tax Support decision 

You can ask us for a written statement of the reasons for the decision

You need to ask within a month of the decision being issued.

You can raise a grievance against the decision

You need to say why you think it is wrong. You can do this at any time.

If you have raised a grievance and we have looked at the decision but decided not to change it, or you are still unhappy, you have a month to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal Service.

If you have asked us to look at the decision again and we have not replied within 2 months, you can appeal directly to the Valuation Tribunal Service. You can do this at the valuation tribunal service's website (opens new window) or by emailing Appeals@valuationtribunal.gov.uk. If you want to contact them by another method, call 0303 445 8100 or write to Valuation Tribunal Service, 2^nd Floor, 120 Leman Street, London E1 8EU.

Landlord appeals

Landlords only have certain rights to appeal if they don't agree with the decision about Housing Benefit. While they cannot appeal the level of benefit we award they can:

• appeal if our decision is not to pay benefit direct to them
• appeal if we ask them to pay back any benefit we have overpaid