What is an appeal?
When you make a claim for Housing Benefit &/or Council Tax
Benefit, we make a decision after considering all the facts &
evidence that you provide, taking into account benefit legislation.
A decision letter is then sent to you, advising how much your
benefit entitlement is & what figures we have used to make our
calculation.
We always aim to make the right decision, but if you disagree or
would like us to reconsider our decision, you can request this, in
writing within one calendar month of the date of our decision. Your
appeal rights will be on the reverse of your decision letters.
You should post any request for a re-consideration or a request
for an appeal to:
Benefit Services
Ashford Borough Council
Civic Centre
Tannery Lane
Ashford
Kent
TN23 1PL
What happens next?
A benefits officer, who has had no previous
part in the decision-making process, will look again at all the
facts about your benefit claim to make sure the decision was made
correctly.
If the officer decides the decision was wrong,
then it will be changed. This could be from the date the first
decision took effect, or from an earlier or later date.
Whatever part of your claim is changed, you will be told in writing
what we have done and why.
If the benefits officer does not agree that a
mistake has been made in the way your benefit was worked out, then
you will also be told this in writing. You will be asked if
you want the details of your claim to go The
Appeals Service who are completely independent of the
council.
What if I have a query about how you have worked out my
entitlement?
Once you have read your decision letters, if
you don't understand why we have made our decision, or you need
further clarification, you can write in asking us to explain our
decision. This is called a request for a "statement of reasons". A
letter will then be sent to you explaining your benefit calculation
in more detail.
Alternatively you can phone our call centre & ask them to
explain the decision letters on 01233
331111 or e-mail your query to benefit.services@ashford.gov.uk
What if I want to complain about the way my claim for
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit has been, or is being dealt
with?
You can ring and ask to speak to a Senior Revenues
and Benefits Officer, who has day to day responsibility for
the processing of Housing and Council Tax Benefit claims. If
they cannot give you a clear answer or explanation, then ask to
speak to the Revenues and Benefits Manager. If you are still
not satisfied with what you are told, the Council’s complaint
procedure needs to be followed
This webpage was updated on
1/20/2012