Disputes & Appeals - Housing Benefit

If you think the decision about Housing Benefit is wrong

You can either

•  Ask us to explain it
•  Ask us to look at it again, or
•  Appeal to an independent tribunal.

There are time limits for asking for decisions to be looked at again and for appealing.

If you would like us to look at a decision again or appeal to the Tribunals Service, you can download an appeals form.

Do you want to ask for more information about the decision?

When we have made a decision about your housing benefit claim we will write to tell you the outcome.

If you want more information about a decision we have made about your benefit you must contact us straight away.

This is because if you want us to look at the decision again or if you want to appeal against it, you must do so within one month of the date on the decision letter.

When you contact us for more information you have a choice:

• You can ask us to explain the reasons for the decision and/or
• If you want more information to help you decide what to do, you can ask us for a written statement of reasons for the decision if we have not already sent you one. You must do this within one month of the date of the decision letter. We will send the statement of reasons to you as soon as possible.

If you still disagree with the decision, you can either:

• Ask us to look at it again, or
• Appeal against the decision.

If you asked for a written statement of reasons within one month of the decision letter, the time you have to appeal will be extended by the time we took to send the statement of reasons.

Do you want to ask us to look at our decision again?

You must write to us within one month of the date on the decision letter if you want us to look at the decision again.

If there are special circumstances which mean you cannot write within one month, we may still be able to look at the decision again. Please tell us what the special circumstances are when you contact us.

What happens when we look at the decision again?

•  When you ask us to look at the decision again, we will start by checking that the decision is correct
•  A different member of staff will usually do this
•  If the decision is wrong we will change it
•  We will send you a letter telling you what the new decision is
• If the decision cannot be changed, we will send you a letter telling you that we cannot change it
  You then have a further one month if you want to appeal to an independent tribunal. You can find out more about the independent Tribunal Service by visiting their website using the link on the right.

Do you want to appeal against our decision?

If you -

•  Have had a letter telling you about a decision and
•  That letter offers you the right to appeal
•  And you believe the decision is wrong, you may want to appeal to an independent tribunal.

Advice

For independent advice or help with your appeal, you might want to contact an advice agency or organisation such as Boston's Citizens Advice Bureau on 01205 315915 or a solicitor.

Boston Borough Council will not pay any legal fees or travelling expenses relating to the appeal.