Worthing Borough Council

Appeals

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Lines open 9am to 5pm - Monday to Friday
Council Tax and Business Rates: 01903 221061
Housing and Council Tax Benefit: 01903 221062

revsbens@worthing.gov.uk

Who may appeal?

The only people who have a right to dispute or appeal about a Housing or Council Tax Benefit decision are called ‘persons affected’.  However, this doesn't mean that everyone affected by a decision has a right to appeal against it because the term ‘persons affected’ relates to specific people as stipulated by the Benefit Regulations, and only the following people may appeal:

• The claimant
• A person appointed by the Council to act for the claimant
• In the case of a person who is unable to act for themselves, a receiver or someone with Power of Attorney
• The landlord, where payment is made to them, but only against a decision of whether or not to pay them
• A person from whom the Council decides that an overpayment is recoverable (landlords may appeal on this issue but their rights are very limited)

What is the appeal procedure?

If a person affected by a decision wishes to dispute or appeal against that decision they must write to the Council within one month of the date of the notification of that decision.

In the first instance the ‘person affected’ may ask the Council:

• For an explanation about how their benefit was calculated
• To look again at the decision
• To forward their appeal direct to an independent Appeal Tribunal

If the ‘person affected’ asks for an explanation of their benefit calculation and they are not satisfied with the explanation they have the right to ask the Council to look again at the decision.  This request must be in writing and made within one month of the date of the explanation.

The Council will notify the ‘person affected’ of the outcome.  What happens next depends on the Council’s decision:

• If the decision is changed, new rights of appeal are issued
• If the decision remains unchanged, the ‘person affected’ has the right to appeal to an Appeal Tribunal

The Appeal Tribunal that considers Housing and Council Tax Benefit appeals is an independent body responsible for hearing appeals about Social Security benefit decisions.

More information about this can be obtained by contacting the Benefit Section.

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