Challenging Decisions
If you are unhappy with a decision about your Housing Benefits
or Council Tax Benefit you can ask for a revision or you can
appeal. If you are successful any change is normally backdated to
the time of the original wrong decision.
There are strict time limits if you want to challenge a
decision. If you miss the time limit, which is usually one month
from the date of the decision letter, you can only put in a late
challenge in exceptional circumstances.
Within this period if you want to know more about the decision,
you can contact the relevant Department and ask for an explanation
or you can ask for written reasons for the decision.
It is best to ask for a revision in writing. You should supply
extra information to support your argument at this stage. The
decision will be looked at again and you will be notified of the
outcome whether they change the decision or not. You then have a
further month to appeal to an independent tribunal.