If you do not agree with your Council Tax Support decision, you can ask us to provide you with a written statement that sets out the reasons for the decision.

You can also ask us to look at our decision again. This is called a reconsideration.

To request a statement of reasons or a reconsideration, contact us within 1 month of the date of the decision.

When we reconsider the decision, a different member of staff will check the claim.

Further information is available in our Council Tax Support appeal procedure document.

How to appeal

Email revenuesandbenefits@bcpcouncil.gov.uk, letting us know the specific reason(s) why you do not agree with the decision.

What happens after you've submitted your appeal

Once we’ve looked over it, we’ll write to let you know if the decision has:

• been changed, giving details of the new decision
• not been changed, giving the reasons why

Appealing the decision

If you’ve already asked us to look at a decision again and, following our response to you, you still think the decision is wrong (even if we have changed the original decision) you can then make an appeal within 2 months direct to the Valuation Tribunal Service. Details of how to appeal will be on your decision letter.

You can also make an appeal direct to the Valuation Tribunal if you have already asked us to look at a decision again but have not received a response from us within 2 months.

You can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal Service about:

• whether or not you’re entitled to a reduction
• the amount of reduction you’ve been awarded

The Valuation Tribunal Service cannot hear appeals about what is in our scheme, only about the way the scheme has been applied in your case.

Other organisations that can help you

Advice centres like the Citizens Advice can represent you and help you understand the reasons for decisions about Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. They may be able to help you to fill in forms or to write a letter.

Solicitors can also give you advice – you may be able to get this advice under the ‘Legal Advice and Assistance Scheme’. You can find out about this from a solicitor.