Appeals

The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefits (Decision and Appeals) Regulations 2001 state that any person affected by a relevant decision can ask the Council to revise its decision. They also state that a person affected can appeal against the Council's decision to an independent appeals tribunal.

A relevant decision is any matter concerning a claim for benefit, for example,

• the amount of benefit payable
• the rent eligible for benefit
• the calculation of a claimant's income
• the calculation and recovery of an overpayment

Some decisions do not carry a right of appeal. These are mainly administrative decisions. You will be notified if the matter you are disputing does not carry the right of appeal.

If you request a revision, the Council will look again at its decision regarding your claim for benefit and will make sure that it has been done correctly.

If you subsequently appeal, a tribunal, independent of the Council and the DWP, will consider the Council's decision.