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Challenging benefits or Tax Credits decisions

Get the decision looked at again

If you disagree with a benefits or Tax Credits decision, you can try to get it changed. You can do this whether or not you have asked the office to explain it by:

• Asking for the decision to be looked at again
• Appealing against the decision. (NB: Some decisions can’t be appealed, but the decision letter that you receive will tell you if you can appeal.)  For more information on what appealing involves, see the section on Appealing against the decision.

Time limits

There are time limits to get the decision looked at again:

Benefits

You have one month from the date of the decision letter. However it may be possible for the one-month time limit to be extended, if there were particular reasons why you could not contact the office within one month of your letter, e.g. you were in hospital.

Tax Credits

You can ask the tax office to look at the decision again at any time during the current tax year, or, if they have made a mistake, within five years of the end of the tax year concerned. However, if you have had a change in circumstances that means you are entitled to an increase of Tax Credits, you may not get all of the increase unless you get in touch with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within three months.

When a decision is looked again

When you ask for a decision to be looked at again, it will be reconsidered, usually by a different member of staff. The benefits or tax office may ask you for more information. If they do, you should provide it as soon as possible and let them know if there is likely to be a delay.

When the decision has been looked at again:

• If the decision can be changed, the office will send you a new decision
• If it cannot be changed, they will send you a letter to tell you
• If you get a revised decision and you still think it is wrong, you can ask for it to be looked at a further time. However, unless you have new information it is unlikely to be changed at this stage.
• If a benefits or Tax Credits decision has the right of appeal, you can consider appealing against it.

Please note that if you decide to ask for a benefits or Tax Credits decision to be reconsidered or you appeal against it, there could also be a risk that your benefits or Tax Credits could be reduced or even stopped.

If you are thinking of asking for a decision to be looked at again or of appealing against it, you may need expert advice from a benefits adviser.  To find a local adviser, you can use our Find an Adviser tool.

Other sections in Challenging benefits or Tax Credits decisions:

• Introduction (including sources of further help and advice)
• Get more information about the decision
• Appeal against the decision

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Date of publication: 16 July 2010