What to do if you think your benefit claim is incorrect
If you think our decision on your benefit claim is incorrect, please contact us within one month of the date of this letter using the contact details on the back of the letter, explaining why you think it’s not right.
If you want to know how we have calculated your level of benefit, you can:
- Ask for an explanation by phone or in writing.
- Ask us to look again at the decision. This request must be in writing.
- Appeal against the decision. This must be in writing. If you appeal an independent tribunal administered by the Appeals Service will hear your appeal.
What you need to pay
Council Tax
The weekly benefit shown on your letter will be converted to an annual figure. We will work out how much benefit you will get and take this amount from your Council Tax bill. You are responsible for paying the difference. Council Tax is rounded to the nearest whole penny to calculate weekly benefit.
Rent
You are responsible for paying the difference between the benefit awarded and your full housing costs. If you are a private tenant, you will receive either a payment into your bank or building society account or your landlord will be paid directly. If you are a council tenant, your benefit will be paid directly to your rent account.
Disputing Council Tax Reduction
If you are disputing a decision that affects your Council Tax Reduction for a period from 1st April 2013:
- You should write to the Benefit Section stating why you think the decision is wrong. There is no time limit, but ideally, we would like you to write in within one calendar month of the date of our decision. We will look at original decision within two months of when we receive your dispute letter and write to you with our decision.
- If you decide to appeal against that decision, you must contact the Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS) within two months of the council’s decision and include a copy of the council’s decision with your appeal form. If the council does not write back to you within two months, you can still appeal to VTS, as long as not more than four months have passed since you wrote to the council to dispute this.
Change in circumstances
You must tell us about any changes in your circumstances which might affect your claim. You may lose benefit if you fail to tell us of the change within one month. Overpayments resulting from a failure to notify changes of circumstance will be recovered from you. You are responsible for telling us about changes to your circumstances.
Examples of changes you must tell us about include:
- A change in your or your partner’s income or savings.
- Someone leaving or joining your household.
- Changes to your rent.
Pensioners
Pensioners receiving pension credit should report any changes to their income to the Pensions Service. Any other changes, including those listed above, should be reported to us. If you receive a Savings Credit, you should notify us and the Pensions Service about any changes.
Extra help
If you are still struggling to pay your rent or Council Tax and feel that you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact us for further details on what help may be available.
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions, please contact us on the number below. Our opening times are:
- Monday to Friday 9am-12 midday.
You can make an appointment to speak with one of our team, by calling 01883 722000, or log in to your MyTandridge account and select 'apply or update my benefits claims', or writing to Benefits Department, Council Offices, 8 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey RH8 0BT.
If you’d like independent advice, please contact your local Citizens Advice at Caterham on 03444 111444 or at Oxted on 0800 144 8848.