Crisis and Resilience Fund policy

15.1 Housing Payments are awarded at the discretion of the Council and are not subject to the statutory Housing Benefit appeals process. This means applicants do not have the right for their case to be heard by an independent tribunal.

15.2 The Council operates its own internal review process for the following decisions:

• a refusal to award a Crisis Payment or Housing Payment
• an award made at a reduced amount
• the effective date of an award (for a Housing Payment)
• a decision that a Crisis Payment or Housing Payment has been overpaid

15.3 Applicants wishing to request a review must do so within one month of the date of the decision. Requests should be sent to the Helping Hand service for Crisis payments or the Benefits Service for Housing Payments and may be submitted in writing, by email, or through the Council’s online services, and must include the reasons why the applicant believes the decision should be reconsidered.

15.4 The review will be carried out by an independent officer who was not involved in the original decision. The reviewing officer will consider all relevant information, including any new evidence provided. The applicant will be notified of the review outcome as soon as reasonably practicable. Unless there has been a change in circumstances, the reviewing officer will not reduce an award already made.