The Housing Benefit (Decision and Appeals) Regulations 2001 state that any 'person affected' by a relevant decision can ask the Council to revise its decision. It also states that a person affected can appeal against the Council's decision to an independent appeal tribunal.
A relevant decision is any matter concerning a claim for benefit, for example: the amount of benefit payable, the rent eligible for benefit, the calculation of a claimants income or the calculation and recovery of an overpayment. Some decisions, mainly administrative decisions, do not carry a right of appeal. You will be notified if the matter you are disputing does not carry the right of appeal.
A request for a revision means that the Council will look again at its decision regarding a claim for benefit and will make sure that it has been done correctly.
An appeal means that a Tribunal, independent of the Council and the DWP, will consider the Council's decision.
Affected persons
A person affected is:
A claimant
Someone acting on behalf of the claimant who is appointed by the Courts
Someone who the Council agrees is appointed to act on behalf of the claimant
A landlord - but only in matters relating to whom payment of Benefit is to be made
An agent - but only in matters relating to whom payment of Benefit is to be made
Any person from whom, it is determined, an overpayment is to be recovered
This means that you can ask the Council to revise a decision concerning the calculation of your entitlement; and that your landlord or agent can only ask the Council to revise a decision about whether payment should be made to a landlord and whether the decision to recover an overpayment from a landlord or agent has been correctly made
If you are not happy with the Council's decision
You can query the Council's decision and request further information about the decision. The Council will give you an explanation, sometimes over the phone. If you are still not happy you can appeal or request a revision of the Council's decision.
Contact us
Revenues Section
PO Box 355
TW3 4PJ
Tel : 020 8583 4242.