If you think our decision is wrong you have the right to:
- ask for an explanation of our decision
- ask us to reconsider our decision
- appeal against our decision
Asking for an Explanation of Our Decision
If you want us to explain our decision you must write to us within one calendar month of the date on the letter giving our decision. Your letter must:
- identify the decision, which you want explained,
- include the date of our decision, which you want explained,
- be signed by you - including where someone else has written the letter on your behalf.
Asking us to Reconsider Our Decision
If you want us to reconsider our decision you must write to us within one calendar month of the date on the letter giving our decision. Your letter must:
- identify the decision, which you want reconsidered,
- include the date of our decision, which you want reconsidered,
- include reasons why you think our decision is wrong,
- be signed by you - including where someone else has written the letter on your behalf.
If you write to us outside of the one-month time limit your letter must ask for an extension of the time allowed and include reasons for the delay.
If you have any evidence to support your reasons you should provide it with your letter.
A different person to the one who made the original decision will deal with your letter and write to you within 14 days.
If you are still not happy you will have one month from the date of our response to appeal. If you do this, your letter will be forwarded to the Appeals Service for them to deal with.
Making an Appeal
If you want to appeal against our decision you must write to us within one calendar month of the date on the letter giving our decision. Your letter must:
- identify the decision, which you want to appeal
- include the date of our decision, which you want to appeal
- include reasons why you think our decision is wrong
- be signed by you - including where someone else has written the letter on your behalf.
If you write to us outside of the one-month time limit your letter must ask for an extension of the time allowed and include reasons for the delay.
If you have any evidence to support your reasons you should provide it with your letter.
If you have previously asked us to reconsider our decision we will forward your letter to the Appeals Service.
If you have not previously asked us to reconsider our decision we will do so and write to you. If the decision is not changed, or is changed but results in less benefit, your letter will be forwarded to the Appeals Service.
If the decision is changed in your favour, your appeal will end. You will still have appeal rights but the process will start again with the new decision.
If you want an explanation, a reconsideration or to appeal please download our appeal form.
