Challenge a decision

Before you challenge a decision we have made on your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, please read your benefits decision letter to make sure all the details are correct.

The benefits decision letter will tell you:

• what decision we made
• how we worked it out
• what information we have used to make a decision.

You can also see information about your benefits entitlement in My Account. 

If you don't understand, or do not agree with a decision we have made about your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, you have the right to ask us to look again at our initial decision.

This is known as a reconsideration.

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

• what part of the decision you disagree with
• what you think is incorrect
• documentary evidence for us to reassess our original decision.

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

Failure to do this will result in no changes being made to your claim. 

Who can request a reconsideration

Only the person affected can request a reconsideration. This is usually:

• the claimant
• an appointee or individual with power of attorney to act on the claimants behalf
• a landlord or agent - but only regarding who the benefit is paid to
• anyone whom we decide to recover a benefit overpayment from.

Apply for a reconsideration

What happens next

When we receive your request for a reconsideration, we will look at the claim again.

After reconsidering the decision, we will advise you in writing whether the decision has been changed or if it will stay the same. 

If the decision remains unchanged, you then have one month to appeal our decision.

Appeal a decision

You can appeal a decision within one month of the date of the dispute decision letter if you disagree with the original decision. 

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

To appeal, please complete a new dispute a benefits decision form and select the 'Appeal' option from the dropdown.

Council Tax Support Appeal

If you disagree with the council’s decision about any Council Tax reduction you receive, you can lodge 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.