Housing benefit
Appealing a decision
If you believe your Housing Benefit or Council Tax reduction claim has not been calculated correctly, you can ask us for an explanation. We will explain how we made the decision and what information we used.
Appeal a housing benefit decision
You must write to us within one month from the date of our decision. You can contact us by:
- Email: benefits@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- Post: Revenues and Benefits, PO Box 187, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH34 9DB
- Visit: bring your appeal request to one of our customer service centres.
What happens next?
When we receive your housing benefit appeal request, another person from our Housing Benefit team will reconsider the decision we made by reviewing:
- your claim and supporting documents
- how we made the decision.
We will then write to you with an explanation.
What if I still disagree with the decision?
If you still disagree with our explanation, you can appeal the decision. Your appeal must be in writing, signed and sent to us by post or email within one month from the date of our decision:
- Email: TSCappealsandcomplaints@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- Post: Revenues and Benefits, PO Box 187, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH34 9DB
Your written appeal must include:
- what decision you are appealing
- full reasons why you think the decision is wrong
- your name and address
- name and address of your representative, if you have one.
We will send your appeal to the Independent Tribunal Service who will contact you when they receive the appeal documents.
Late appeals
If you appeal later than one month from the date of our decision, you need to tell us why it is late. Late appeals are only accepted in special circumstances.
We cannot accept appeals if they are made 13 months after the date of the decision letter. We can choose to extend the time limit, but only if there are special circumstances.
Appeal a Council Tax reduction decision
You must write to us within one month from the date of our decision. You can contact us by:
- Email: benefits@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- Post: Revenues and Benefits, PO Box 187, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH34 9DB
- Visit: bring your appeal request to one of our customer service centres.
What happens next?
When we receive your appeal request, another person from our Council Tax team will reconsider the decision we made by reviewing:
- your claim and supporting documents
- how we made the decision.
We will then write to you with an explanation.
What if I still disagree with the decision?
If you do not understand or you disagree with our explanation of how the scheme has been applied in working out your council tax bill, you can appeal the decision.
If we do not respond to your appeal request within two months, you can appeal directly to the Valuation Tribunal provided no more than four months have passed since you requested your reconsideration.
To appeal a Council Tax reduction (CTR) decision, you must appeal directly to the Valuation Tribunal (VT).
- By phone: 0303 445 8100
- By email: appeals@valuationtribunal.gov.uk
- Valuation Tribunal website
If you wish to appeal to the VT, you must contact them directly within two months of the date of our decision and include the copy of our decision with your appeal form.
The VT cannot hear appeals about what is in our scheme, only about the way the scheme has been applied in your case.
The VT do not have jurisdiction over excess Council Tax reduction (also known as overpayments) appeals, as excess CTR is recoverable within the scheme however caused.
As the decision whether to accept your appeal lies with the VT and not us, you can still explore your appeal options with the VT directly. Please be aware that any appeals related to excess CTR will not be accepted by the VT.
Should you still wish to dispute a decision regarding excess CTR, the only other alternative is to apply for discretionary relief through our discretionary hardship payment scheme.
