COUNCIL TAX AND HOUSING BENEFIT PROBLEMS

If you think your housing benefit or council tax benefit has been incorrectly calculated.

Ask the council to send you a statement of reasons. This will explain the basis of their decision about your benefit.

If you are unhappy with these reasons, ask the council to consider your claim again.

You must write to the council within six weeks of receiving their decision about your benefit to explain why you disagree with their decision.

If you still disagree with the Council's assessment of your benefit write to the council requesting a hearing by a review board.

The review board must arrange a hearing within six weeks of your request.

You can appeal against a review board's decision on a point of law only (if you think the board has misapplied the law relating to HB/CTB).

If you are considering doing this you should get legal advice (contact CAB Cornwall).

If you think you have suffered an injustice as a result of bad, inefficient or improper administration by the local authority you may be able to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman.