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Challenging decisions on benefits or tax credits

If you don't agree with a decision about your benefits:

  • we can help you understand the decision and what to do next
  • we can give advice and help you challenge the decision
  • if you appeal, we can support you and go with you to the hearing

Please contact us as soon as possible:

We need time to prepare if you want us to help with your appeal.

When you ask for a decision to be looked at again there are 2 steps.

Step 1: Mandatory reconsideration

Asking the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to check the decision again:

  • ask for this within 1 month of the decision, if it's more than 1 month explain why it has taken you longer
  • say why you think the decision is wrong
  • you can ask by phone, in your Universal Credit Journal or complete a mandatory reconsideration request form and send it to the address on the decision letter
  • you can ask for a copy of the evidence used to make the decision
  • if you have new information, send it to them
  • another person will look at your case and may contact you
  • you'll get a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice - keep this safe as you need it to appeal

Step 2: Appeal

If you still don't agree after you receive a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice:

  • you can appeal a benefit decision
  • we can help you with your appeal and go with you to the tribunal hearing
  • you must appeal within 1 month of getting your reconsideration notice
  • contact us telephone: 01629 531535 as soon as you get your notice

You can find more information about how to challenge and appeal a benefit decision.

If you want to appeal a decision on Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, or Child Benefit the process is different. Please contact us for advice.