Appeal a decision about Housing Benefit and Rate Relief

Decision letter about your Housing Benefit and Rate Relief

When you apply for Housing Benefit and Rate Relief, the Housing Executive will assess your claim and send you a decision letter.

If you think their decision is wrong, you can:

• ask for a written or verbal explanation
• ask for the claim to be looked at again - this is a reconsideration
• appeal to an independent tribunal if you’re still dissatisfied after a reconsideration

Asking for an explanation

If you want the Housing Executive to explain their decision, you can telephone for an explanation. You can also ask the Housing Executive to give you a written explanation, known as a Written Statement of Reasons (WSOR). You need to ask for an explanation within one month of the decision.

Asking for a reconsideration

If you aren’t satisfied with their explanation, you can ask the Housing Executive to look at their decision again. You must do this within one month of the decision letter and give reasons why you believe the decision is wrong. If you asked the Housing Executive for an WSOR, they’ll extend the time limit by the number of days they take to send you the statement.

To ask for more information about the decision:

• telephone Housing Benefit: 03448 920 902
• text relay: 18001 03448 920 902
• email your local Housing Benefit office

Find your nearest:

 Housing Benefit office

Reconsideration of your claim

The staff member in the Housing Executive who made the original decision about your claim doesn’t conduct the reconsideration. When the Housing Executive has reconsidered your claim, you’ll receive a letter with one of the following decisions:

• the Housing Executive has not changed their original decision
• the Housing Executive has changed the original decision in your favour
• the Housing Executive  has changed the original decision but not in your favour

You're dissatisfied with the decision after a reconsideration

After a reconsideration, you can ask the Housing Executive to look at your case again. You must do this within a month of receiving your new decision letter.

Making an appeal

If you are unhappy with decisions made by the Housing Executive, you can ask for a review of your case by an independent tribunal.

Appeal form

To ask for a review, you need to write to the Housing Executive within one month of the date on their decision letter. 

Find your nearest: Housing Benefit office

For more information, you can contact the Housing Executive by:

• telephone: 03448 920 902
• text relay: 18001 03448 920 902
• Visit : Housing Executive - Housing Benefit Appeals

The Appeals Service handles Housing Benefit and Rate Relief appeals.

• Appeals Service

Making an appeal within the time limit

When you appeal, the Housing Executive will look again at your application. If they don’t change their decision, they send information about your appeal to the Appeals Service. An independent tribunal will consider your appeal. Tribunal members aren't employed by the Housing Executive.

Making a late appeal

If your appeal is later than a month of the decision letter, you must give reasons for the delay. The tribunal will consider your reasons and decide if they can accept your application for an appeal.

Appeal hearing

If the case goes to appeal, you can choose an oral hearing or a written determination.

Oral hearing

The tribunal will give you 14 days’ notice of the hearing. If there is a good reason why you cannot go, you must tell the tribunal immediately. If you don’t, the tribunal may decide the case in your absence.

At the hearing, you may ask questions and call witnesses. The tribunal may ask you questions.  The Housing Executive is usually represented at these hearings.

Written determination

You or the Housing Executive don't go to a written determination. In making any decision, the tribunal relies on information you and the Housing Executive supplied about your claim.

You may need to go to an oral hearing if:

• the Housing Executive requests this
•  the tribunal feels this is necessary to reach a decision

You can change your mind and ask the Appeals Service for an oral hearing. You need to write and ask them. If the appeal has not yet been decided, they may be able to arrange an oral hearing.

Result of an appeal

You will receive the tribunal's summary decision soon after the hearing.

You can request:

• a statement of reasons explaining the tribunal's decision, and the facts and law used, which you must ask for within one month of the issue of the decision
• a record of proceedings from the hearing, which you must ask for within six months of the issue of the decision

If your appeal is successful, the Housing Executive will usually amend your claim as soon as it receives the decision.

Appealing a decision to the Social Security Commissioners

If you disagree with the tribunal’s decision, you can appeal to the Social Security Commissioner. The commissioners are independent of the Housing Executive and the Appeals Service.

Your appeal must relate to a point of law, not questions about facts or evidence.

The Housing Executive can also appeal the tribunal’s decision to the Social Security Commissioners.

• Office of Social Security Commissioners and Child Support Commissioners