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If you want to know more about a decision regarding your benefit entitlement, or if you think it is wrong, you should contact us as soon as possible.

If there is anything you are unclear about you can challenge the decision in a number or ways:

• Ask the housing benefit department for an explanation of the decision. You can ask for this verbally or in writing
• Ask the housing benefit department for the decision to be looked at again. This is known as a reconsideration.
• Submit an appeal in writing giving reasons why you disagree with the decision

Appealing against a decision

An appeal can be made at any time within one month of the date of your decision letter. If you have already asked for an explanation, or for us to look at the decision again, you can still appeal.

To appeal against a decision, you must write to us saying which decision you are appealing against and give your reasons for doing so. Your appeal will be heard by an independent tribunal administered by the Tribunal Service.

Remember that you should contact us using the details on the right within one month of the date of your notification letter or we may not be able to consider any dispute. An appeal may be considered outside this time limit if there are special circumstances but there is an absolute time limit of 13 months from the date of the original decision letter.

To find out more about the appeals process go to the Tribunal Service website or Department for Work and Pensions website.

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