How do you ensure that my Benefit claim is correct?
When you apply for benefits, you will sign a declaration which confirms that you will tell us of any change in your personal circumstances which may affect the payment of your claim. It is important that you tell us of any changes immediately to make sure that the correct amount of benefit is awarded to you. It is your responsibility to tell us of any change in your personal circumstances.
Whenever you receive a decision notice for your benefits, you should read all the details of the letter to ensure that the information we have used to calculate your benefits is accurate. If you notice that some of the details used to decide your benefits is incorrect, you should contact the Benefits Office as soon as possible to tell us. If any of the income, expenses, capital (savings), rent or ineligible service charges are incorrect, please write to the Benefits Office immediately to tell them what figures are incorrect.
The Benefits Office will then look again at the decision and give you an explanation of the decision. Where an overpayment or an official error occurs, your claim will be revised or superseded from when the overpayment began.
What happens if I am paid too much Benefit?
If you are overpaid benefit you will normally have to repay it. We will write and tell you what your correct benefit is and how much the overpayment is. We will either ask you to repay the amount in full, or we can deduct the overpayment from any future monies you receive from us.
What happens if I disagree with a decision or do not understand it?
If you think we have made a mistake in assessing your benefit, or if you do not understand how your claim was calculated, you can write to the Benefits Office for an explanation. This is called a 'Statement of Reasons'. If you disagree with a decision you have the right to challenge it. This is called 'Requesting a Reconsideration', and must also be done in writing within one calendar month of the original decision being made. You also have the right to appeal against a decision and to have your appeal heard by the Tribunal Service at an Appeal Tribunal.
