Housing Benefit Appeal Form (Page 4 of 4) in pdf

Additional information

Your appeal must be sent to us, in writing. This form needs to be returned within one month of the

date of your award letter or within 13 months with an explanation for the delay.

We will send your appeal to the Tribunals Service with the relevant documentary evidence. A copy of

this will be sent to you and your representative, if you have one, as soon as possible. Your copy of

the papers for your appeal will be sent to the Tribunals Service. They will contact you directly.

If you do not want your appeal to go ahead, please let us know in writing ensuring that that you have

signed this statement.

The administration of the Tribunals Service is undertaken by the HM Courts & Tribunals Service. The

tribunal itself, however, is fully independent. At the tribunal, a legally qualified chairman, either a

solicitor or barrister, will look at your appeal to see whether the decision should be changed or stay

the same. The hearing will take place as soon as possible. The Housing Benefit section will present

the council’s case to the tribunal.

You have the right to attend the tribunal hearing to put your case in person if you want to. When you

are putting forward an appeal to the tribunal you also have the right to:

a) have other people come to the tribunal to give evidence on your behalf

b) put questions to any other person who gives evidence at the tribunal

c) have one other person to be with you or to represent you at the tribunal.

This appeals procedure is entirely free of charge (apart from any expenses involved if you decide to

get professional advice or representation). The Tribunals Service may pay some of your expenses,

e.g. travel costs to get to and from the tribunal hearing.

Neither the Tribunals Service nor a local authority has the power to award costs, either for or against

someone, whether they are successful or unsuccessful in the appeal hearing.

For additional help including contact information for advice agencies visit:

Housing Benefit Appeal Form Page 4