How to appeal against our decision
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefits are there to help you
pay your Rent and/or Council Tax. We want to be sure that you are
getting all the Benefit you are entitled to.
You may have extra information that we did not take into account
when we worked out your Benefit or we may have made a mistake. We
want to know and make sure your Benefit is correct.
How is Benefit worked out?
The rules are complicated and cannot be explained here but you
are entitled to a detailed explanation, in writing, of how we
worked out your Benefit. This is called a "written statement of
reasons" and must be requested within one month of
the date on the decision letter.
Even if you do not qualify for any Benefit, you can still ask
for a detailed explanation of why not.
Not Happy?
- Do you disagree with the information we have used?
- Do you think that we were wrong to say that you did not qualify
for Benefit?
- Do you think that we should not have restricted your rent?
- Do you disagree with the amount of non-dependant
deductions?
- Do you think that we should back-date your claim?
(should we give you Benefit from an earlier date?)
- Do you believe that we should not ask you to pay back an
"overpayment" of Benefit?
(an overpayment is an amount you have received, but one which we
now say you were not entitled to)
You can ask us to look at our decision again giving your reasons
as fully as possible. You must write within one
month of getting our decision, unless you have a good
reason for being late (such as being in hospital).
We will check the decision then write to you again.
Still Unhappy?
Whether we decide to change our original decision or not, you
can appeal further if you think it is still wrong, but you must do
that within one month of our latest decision
letter.
We will send any further appeal with an explanation of the law
and facts used to make the decision to the Appeals Service - an
independent tribunal made up of people who are not from the
Council. They will decide your appeal at a tribunal hearing.
It is Your Right!
Benefit is a legal right. If you think we have got it wrong, do
not be afraid to challenge our decision. The appeal process will
not cost you anything.
In Brief
- You can ask for a written statement of how any Benefit decision
affecting you was made.
- If you are unhappy with any Benefit decision affecting you, you
have the right to ask for it to be looked at again.
- If you think it is wrong, you have the right to be heard by an
independent tribunal.
Appeal Form
More information and our appeal form which you need to complete
is available in our guide Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit
Appeals (below).
Who To Appeal To
All correspondence should be sent to:
Head of Benefits Services
Carlisle City Council
Civic Centre
Carlisle
CA3 8QG
Where to Get Advice
The Benefits reception in the Customer Contact Centre at
Carlisle Civic Centre:
9am - 5pm Monday - Thursday and 9am - 4pm Friday
Or you can contact us by:
Tel: (01228) 817200 Fax: (01228) 817266
E-mail: hben@carlisle.gov.uk
Independent Advice
If you want independent advice about your benefit and/or need
help to appeal you can contact either the Benefit Advice Service or
the Citizens Advice Bureau.