If you disagree with your appeal decision you may
be able to appeal against it.
You can do this through the
Social Security Commissioners
which is made up of a group of barristers, solicitors and advocates
who decide appeals from Appeals Service
tribunals.
They are independent and in no way connected to either the
Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP) North Somerset Council or
Liberata.
Appeals can be made to the Commissioners by anyone who has already
appealed to the Appeals Service, ourselves or the DWP.
These appeals can only be made on points of law and cannot
questions facts or a tribunal's findings or conclusions.
Your appeal decision letter will advise you what to do if you are
unhappy with the decision.
Read it carefully as it will provide you with important time limits
for your appeal.
You cannot appeal unless you first obtain a statement of reasons
for the Appeals Service tribunal's decision.
You should read this document carefully and if you think the
tribunal did not apply the law correctly you can apply for leave to
appeal to the Commissioners.
You are entitled to ask for outside help and advice with your
application from advice centres such as the
Citizens Advice Bureau
(CAB) or a solicitor.
However, you must do this within one month of the date the
statement of reasons was sent to you.
Late applications for a statement of reasons or for leave to
appeal to the Commissioners can only be accepted if there are
special circumstances or reasons which caused the delay and you
will need to show why you were not able to make your request on
time.
If you appeal to the Commissioners you must send the statement of
reasons with your application. If you do not your application may
not be looked at.
A legally qualified tribunal member will decide if your appeal can
be sent to the Commissioners or if the appeal should be looked at
again by a different tribunal.
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