Decisions about your Housing Benefit
When we make a decision about your Housing Benefit we will send you a decision notice telling you about the decision.
This notice will tell you how we have calculated your entitlement to Housing Benefit; the income; savings and rent we have used; any deductions we are taking for other people living with you; the amount of Housing Benefit (if any) you are entitled to receive each week; and how we are going to pay your benefit.
You must check the information on the decision notice carefully and tell us immediately if any of the details on the notice are wrong or if anything is missing.
Further information on the following below:
What if you think the decision we have made is wrong?
Asking us to look at the decision again
Appealing to an independent tribunal
Need more information?
What if you think the decision we have made is wrong?
If you think the decision we have made is wrong you can ask us to:
- Provide a more detailed explanation of how we have worked out your Housing Benefit – this is called a Statement of Reasons
- Look at our decision again – this is called a reconsideration
- Request a formal appeal to an independent tribunal
Asking us to explain a decision
If you think a decision we have made is wrong you can ask us explain it. You can contact us by telephone on 0800 901057 and speak to an officer who will explain the decision we have made.
If you want a more detailed explanation you can request a written Statement of Reasons. You must request a statement of reasons in writing (we cannot take this request over the telephone). You can do this by:
- E-mailing us at benefits@eastdunbarton.gov.uk; or
- writing to us at the Revenues and Benefits Team, William Patrick Library, 2-4 West High Street, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow G66 1AD
You must do this within one month of the date of the decision it relates to. The date of the decision can be found on the decision notice.
Your request must include the following information:
- Your name; address and Housing Benefit reference number (an email address and/or telephone would also be very helpful)
- Details of the decision you want more information about (e.g. the date of the decision; the outcome of the decision, e.g. my benefit stopped; my benefit reduced; etc)
When we receive a request for a Statement of Reasons we will write to you and explain how we made the decision.
If you still think the decision is wrong after we have explained it you can ask us to reconsider it and/or appeal against it to an independent tribunal.
Asking us to look at the decision again
If you think the decision we have made about your Housing Benefit is wrong you can ask us to reconsider it.
You must make your request in writing to the Revenues and Benefits Team and you must make it within one month of the date of the decision it relates to.
You can do this by:
- E-mailing us at benefits@eastdunbarton.gov.uk; or
- writing to us at the Revenues and Benefits Team, William Patrick Library, 2-4 West High Street, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow G66 1AD
Your request must include the following information:
- Your name; address and Housing Benefit reference number (an email address and/or telephone would also be very helpful)
- What you think is wrong with the decision and why
Please send us any documents or information you have that might make a difference to our decision.
When we receive a request for a reconsideration we will look at the decision again.
We may write to you for additional information and evidence to help us reconsider the decision.
We will decide whether the decision can be changed or not. We will send you a decision notice telling you the outcome of the reconsideration.
If you still think the decision is wrong after we have reconsidered it you can appeal against it to an independent tribunal.
Appealing to an independent tribunal
If you think the decision we have made about your Housing Benefit is wrong (or still wrong after we have reconsidered it) you can appeal against it to an independent tribunal.
You must make your appeal in writing and send it to the Revenues and Benefits Team by:
- E-mailing us at benefits@eastdunbarton.gov.uk; or
- writing to us at the Revenues and Benefits Team, William Patrick Library, 2-4 West High Street, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow G66 1AD
You must make your appeal within one month of the date of the decision it relates to (or within one month of the date we have reconsidered it).
Your appeal must include the following information:
- Your name; address and Housing Benefit reference number (an email address and/or telephone would also be very helpful)
- What you think is wrong with the decision and why
Please send us any documents or information you have that might make a difference to our decision.
We may write to you for additional information and evidence to help progress your appeal.
A hearing may then be set up by the Tribunal to decide whether the decision should be changed.
Need more information?
If you need more information about your appeal rights you should contact the Revenues and Benefits Team at benefits@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or telephone us on 0800 901057