Challenge a decision

When we decide about your Housing Benefit, we’ll send you a letter. It will explain how we worked it out. Please read it carefully.

If you don’t agree with the decision, you can ask us to check it again. This is called a reconsideration.

Submit a Reconsideration (Dispute)

To do this you should complete an online dispute form detailing:

• the date of the decision you are asking us to review
• the reason you believe the decision is wrong
• any evidence to support what you are telling us.

You must request a reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision you disagree with.

If you don’t, your claim will stay the same and no changes will be made.

Make an appeal

If you appeal, we’ll look at the decision again. You must ask for this within one month of you being notified of the decision.

You must tell us why you think the decision is wrong and provide any additional evidence that may be relevant to your appeal.

If we do not change our decision your appeal will be sent to the Tribunals Service. We’ll let you know when we have done this.

To submit a reconsideration or an appeal, please complete a dispute form on My Account.

Council Tax Support appeal

If you disagree with the council’s decision about any Council Tax Support you receive, you can submit an appeal with the Valuations Tribunal. This must be done by completing a Valuations Tribunal appeal form.

Please provide any documentary evidence that you think may help to support your case.

The Valuations Tribunal hear any appeals related to Council Tax Support decisions made by Local Authorities. The Tribunal is independent of the council and will deal with your appeal at a hearing.

What happens next?

If your appeal is unsuccessful, we will send your appeal to be decided by an Independent Tribunal at Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service.