Revisions and appeals
If the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) or your Local Authority (LA) make a decision about your benefits that you don’t agree with, in most cases you can ask them to look at their decision again and hopefully change it.
This information is from the Rethink Advice and Information Service Benefit Revisions and Appeals Factsheet
Whenever the Department of Work and Pensions or Local Authority make a decision about your benefit they will inform you in writing.
If you don’t agree you have 1month in which to either ask for a revision or appeal. Some examples of the types of decisions you may disagree with are:
- You have been found capable of work and therefore refused Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- You have been placed in the Work Related Activity Group of ESA but you think you should be in the Support Group (or vice versa)
- You have been refused Disability living allowance (DLA)
- You have been awarded DLA but not the rate or component you believe you are entitled to.
- That you have been refused or overpaid Housing Benefit (HB) or Council Tax Benefit (CTB)
If you’re not sure what the decision letter means or the reasons why the DWP/LA have made the decision you can call them and ask for a verbal explanation or you can write to them and ask for a written statement of reasons.
