Appeals and reconsiderations for housing benefit and council tax support

If you disagree with a housing benefit decision

When we receive your completed application or notification of a change in circumstances, we will calculate your benefits and send you a decision letter. If you disagree with our decision you can:

Ask for a further explanation

Within one calendar month of receiving the decision letter you can ask for an explanation of how the decision was made. We will explain the decision to you in more detail and you will be advised that you can ask for it to be reconsidered or appeal against it.

Ask us to reconsider the decision

After receiving more information about the decision if you are still unhappy you can ask for your application to be reconsidered within one calendar month.

The decision will be reconsidered by a senior officer who will check that it was correctly assessed and make any necessary changes. If the claim is revised and you receive a favourable decision your right of appeal is renewed and you can make a fresh challenge. If however the claim is not revised and the decision is unfavourable your case will be referred to His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service.

Appeal a housing benefit decision

If you think our decision is wrong you can ask us to refer your appeal to His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service, an independent appeals tribunal. When we receive your request we will prepare an appeal submission and this will be sent to you and His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service. The Tribunal will then make a decision about your appeal. You may be required to attend a Tribunal hearing. Any decision made by the Tribunal must be fully in accordance with benefits legislation.  

For more information about questioning a benefits decision please either:

If you disagree with a council tax support decision

When we receive your completed application or notification of a change in circumstances, we will calculate your benefits and send you a decision letter. If you disagree with our decision you can:

Ask for a further explanation

Within one calendar month of receiving the decision letter you can ask for an explanation of how the decision was made. We will explain the decision to you in more detail and you will be advised that you can ask for it to be reconsidered or appeal against it.

Ask us to reconsider the decision

After receiving more information about the decision if you are still unhappy you can ask for your application to be reconsidered within one calendar month.

The decision will be reconsidered by a senior officer who will check that it was correctly assessed and make any necessary changes. If the claim is revised and you receive a favourable decision your right of appeal is renewed and you can make a fresh challenge. If however the claim is not revised and the decision unfavourable you may be able to appeal to the Valuation Tribunal Service.

Appeal a council tax support decision

If you think our decision is wrong, in certain instances you can appeal directly to the Valuation Tribunal Service, an independent appeals tribunal. Details on how to submit an appeal are on the Valuation Tribunal Service website.  You may be required to attend a Tribunal hearing. Any decision made by the Tribunal must be fully in accordance with the council’s local council tax support scheme.   

For more information about questioning a council tax support decision please either: