If you wish, you may request that the Appeals Tribunal review the Council's decision. The request must be in writing and must be received by the Council within one month of the date on the decision notification letter. The Council's leaflet explaining the decision-making and appeals procedures contains a form that can be used to appeal.
Where you have previously requested that the Council revise its decision and have received a reply from the Council regarding the request, you have one month from the date the Council notified the outcome of the request to ask for their case to be considered by the Appeals Tribunal.
In exceptional circumstances the time limit for requesting an appeal can be extended. You must write to the Council giving grounds for not appealing at the appropriate time. A request for an extension of the time limit will not be considered if it is made 13 months after the notice of decision was issued.
Tribunal attendance
Tribunals are held locally. The Tribunals Service will write to you to tell you of the date, time and place of their hearing. You will also be asked if you want to attend or whether they would prefer the Tribunal to consider their case without being present - this is called a 'paper hearing'.
In most cases the Tribunal will consist of only one panel member who is a legally qualified person. If, however, complicated financial matters are to be considered, a financially qualified person will also be present. The Clerk to the Tribunal and the Council's representative may also be present.
Appealing against a Tribunal's decision
If you or the Council feel that the decision of the Appeal Tribunal is wrong in law, you can seek leave to appeal to the Social Security Commissioners.
Contact us
Revenues Section
PO Box 355
TW3 4PJ
Tel : 020 8583 4242.