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Make an appeal

Sometimes, you may not agree with our decision on how much housing benefit we will pay you, or you might want to challenge an overpayment we've made. You can ask us to look at your claim again by submitting the housing benefit/council tax support reconsideration form.

How to make a housing benefit appeal

If you need to make a housing benefit appeal, you will need to fill in the form in the quick links above. 

Housing benefits

What to do if you think a decision is wrong?

  • Ask us for an explanation on the decision:
    • You can do this by writing to us and ask us for a detailed statement as to how we came to the decision as shown on the housing benefit letter. Please ensure that you put 'Detailed Statement of Housing Benefit' and your claim reference number in the subject area of your email. 
  • Tell us what information is wrong and ask us to look at the decision again:
    • 'Submit the reconsideration form at the top of the page, under quick links and email it to us at [email protected] within one month of the date on your housing benefit letter. We will look at your claim again and write to you. Please ensure that you put 'Housing Benefit Reconsideration' and your claim reference number in the subject area of your email. 
    • You can either scan the document or take photographs and attach them to your email, please make sure you have signed and dated the form, if you don’t then we will return the form back to you.
  • If you still think the decision is wrong you can appeal:
    • Submit an appeals form (available at the top of this page). You must do this within one month of the date stated on your housing benefit letter. 
    • We will then review your decision
    • If we cannot change the decision in your favour, your appeal will be passed directly to the independent Tribunal Service. If you make an appeal after a month or within 13 months, you will need to give an explanation for the delay, clearly giving the reasons for the dispute.

Your right to appeal

Asking for a statement or for us to review you claim does not take away your right to submit a formal appeal.

If I ask for an explanation or ask to reconsider the decision, do I get extra time to apply for other options after?

If you ask for an explanation, or for us to look at our decision again, then you will be allowed extra time if you wish to follow the other options later. We will give you more details about extensions to time limits once you have told us what, if anything, you would like us to do.
Additionally, you are able, at any time, to ask us for a written explanation of any decision we have made by emailing us on [email protected].

Council tax support scheme

If you disagree with the decision regarding council tax support or you would like a further explanation of our decision, you can:

  • Ask us for an explanation on the decision:
    • You can do this by emailing us at [email protected] and ask us for a detailed statement as to how we came to the decision as shown on the council tax support letter. Please ensure that you put ‘Detailed Statement of Council Tax Support’ and your claim reference number in the subject area of your email.
  • Tell us what information is wrong and ask us to look at the decision again:
    • 'Submit the reconsideration form at the top of the page, under quick links and email it to us at [email protected] within one month of the date on your housing benefit letter. We will look at your claim again and write to you. Please ensure that you put ‘Council tax support Reconsideration’ and your claim reference number in the subject area of your email.
    • You can either scan the document or take photographs and attach them to your email, please make sure you have signed and dated the form, if you don’t then we will return the form back to you.
  • Contact the Valuation Tribunal:
    • If you do not agree with our decision after consideration or we have not considered your request within two months, you can contact the Valuation Tribunal using the quick link above.

Need further help?

If you need further help or advice please see our benefits and advice page on the following link: