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Cardiff Council

www.cardiff.gov.uk

How to appeal a decision

​If you disagree with a decision about your Housing Benefit, you can:

 

  • ask for more information about the decision
  • appeal against the decision

 

Appeals against Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction decisions have different rules. If you are appealing against both decisions, please also see how to appeal a decision about Council Tax Reduction.

 

Asking for information about our decision

 

When we make a decision about your Housing Benefit, we send you a letter. If you want more information about the decision you should ask for a statement of reasons. If you ask for this within a month of the decision you will be given extra time if you decide to appeal against the decision.

 

If you disagree with a decision

 

If you disagree with the decision you can first appeal to our Benefits Section or you can appeal directly to an independent Tribunal.

 

You should appeal within one month of the decision. If your appeal is made late, you need to request a time extension and explain why your appeal is late.  There is a maximum appeal time limit of 13 months.

 

Who can appeal?


 

The following people can appeal:

 

  • the claimant,
  • an official appointee acting on behalf of the claimant, or
  • the landlord (if the appeal is about direct payment of Housing Benefit, or about the recovery of overpaid benefit).

 

How to appeal

 

If you disagree with a decision you need to appeal in writing by:

 

 

You can visit one of our Hubs for help to appeal.


 

When we receive details of your appeal we will look at the decision again and all the information provided. We will change the decision if it is wrong and we will write to tell you the result of your appeal.

 

Appealing to an Independent Tribunal

 

If you are still not happy with the decision you can appeal to an Independent Tribunal.  Your appeal must be made in writing.   You cannot appeal to a Tribunal by phone or email. 

Appeals against Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction decisions are heard by different tribunals. If you are appealing against both of these decisions, your appeals will be heard separately. 

 

Appealing a Housing Benefit decision


 

If you want to appeal to the Tribunal Service you must send your appeal to our Benefit section. Your appeal must:

 

  • be in writing and be signed – phone calls and emails are not accepted,
  • explain which decision you want to appeal against, and
  • say why you disagree.  

 

We must receive your appeal letter within one month of the date shown on the decision letter we sent to you.

If your appeal is made late, you need to request a time extension and explain why your appeal is late. There is a maximum appeal time limit of 13 months. 

 

Find out more about the Tribunals Service​​​​​​​​​​​External link opens in a new window

 

 
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