Housing benefit - appeals
What if I think my benefit is wrong?
If you are unhappy with your benefit award or think it has been worked out incorrectly, you should contact us within one month of the date on our decision letter. You can ask us to look at your claim again, or appeal against the decision. You can also ask us to explain how we have worked out your benefit.
If you tell us that you disagree with your benefit award, the original decision will be checked. If it is found that the decision was wrong, we will change it. We will write to you after we have looked at your claim, and if you are still unhappy with our decision, you can appeal against it.
How do I appeal against a decision?
You need to write to us, stating the decision you disagree with and why you disagree. We must receive your appeal within one month of sending you our decision. If we receive it outside of a month, you must also tell us why it is late, including any special circumstances.
All appeals must be signed by either the claimant, the claimant's appointed representative, or in certain circumstances, the landlord.
What happens next?
If we do not change our decision, or change it to your disadvantage, we will send your appeal to the Tribunals Service. The Tribunals Service is independent and is not part of Central Bedfordshire Council. They will look at our decision again, and will decide whether it was correct or not. You can choose to attend the hearing, but you do not have to. They will write to you, and to us, when they have made their decision.