Care and support

Challenging decisions

If you are unhappy with a decision about your benefits you can usually ask for it to be looked at again (revision) or you can formally appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal. If you are successful, any change is normally backdated to the time of the original wrong decision. There are strict time limits if you want to challenge a decision. If you miss the time limit, which is usually one month from the date of the decision letter, you can only put in a late challenge in exceptional circumstances.

Tax credit decisions can be revised for certain decisions eg if there is a change of circumstances, if they have made a mistake or if they think the award is wrong. However, unless you are simply reporting a change of circumstances, it is generally better to request an appeal if you are unhappy with a decision. You should do this within 30 days of the date the decision was sent out to you. You can only put in a late challenge in exceptional circumstances.

For information on how to challenge tax credits decisions select the link entitled challenging decisions on the right hand side of the page.