benefits tribunal help

unemployedJCP

Even if you can't find a representative who is a specialist - you may bring someone (friends, family etc.) to represent you as support. Might not seem to be much help but will make you more confident about the whole situation.

christine_chris_chrissy

leemack wrote: »

Then if you can't get a rep you may well have to represent yourself.

Get together all your evidence to support your case and the submissions that have been written by the LA and DWP.

Firstly establish the case against you. Is the only allegation that your boyfriend was living with you? What evidence have the DWP and council put forward.

If this is the only issue then make a timeline for the whole period in question, make sure you have evidence for your boyfriend's residence for the entire period. Write down each address, the dates resided and the evidence that you have proving residence, make sure there are no gaps.

Go through the submissions line by line and try to 'answer' any point they make. Only you will know why what has been alleged is wrong - write all of this down. Why might the neighbour have thought your boyfriend was living there, or does the neighbour have some reason for giving misleading information - write all this down too.

Type everything you've written up into a statement, try and organise the statement into sections so it is as easy as possible for the tribunal to understand.

Tribunals decide on a balance of probability in these type of cases. In order to be successful an appellant has to have more evidence in their favour and called into question as much of the evidence of the LA/DWP as possible.

Hope that's of some help. Its pretty bad that you can't find non legal help funding in your area. I assume you're in beds or cambs, my sister lives in northants and there's some non legal help funding there.

Thank you this will be my new mantra!
Since my interview back in July '08
I recieved final demands for Council Tax 6 bills in total going
back to '03 the RED type if you haven't paid your bill
I wrote to them coppies kept
I got further demands so I wrote again stating
I had not had the tribunal forms previously requested
eventually they put these on hold untill I have had my tribunal
Again eventually I recieve a date for tribunal I am as organised
at this point as I am likely to be
The morning of the tribunal arrives I have no finger nails left.
Then the phone rings! your tribunal has been adjourned
mortified confused relieved not sure whats going on.
letter arrives:
FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL (WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?) 07/05/2009
SOCIAL SECURITY
Respondant:LA
DECISION NOTICE
1.Another appeal exist that has been made by the Appellant
about her entittlement to income support which has been withdrawn on the same facts.
Both appeals should be heard together.(underlined)
2.Both appeals should be listed as soon as possible for an oral hearing
at****** venue
,allow 2 hours.
3.Presenting Officers for both Respondants should attend as should the Appellant.
4.Todays Tribunal Judge is not excluded.

21/11/2009
Dear********
About your(HOUSING / COUNCIL TAX) BENEFIT COMBINED appeal

Following receipt of a request,or due to Tribunals Service buisness needs,
your appeal has been transferred to a different Tribunals Service office.
The appeal will be heard at the Camb***** Tribunal venue.
Please send any future correspondance about your appeal to the address at the top of this letter.
When you can expect your tribunal to be heard
currently we are experiencing a very high volume of cases & as such
you are not likely to hear from us with a time & date for you hearing before
february 2010
to be continued

christine_chris_chrissy

letter recieved today
dated 21/01/2010
Dear*****
About your INCOME SUPPORT appeal
standard info enclosed
ANOTHER ENQUIRY FORM( I HAVE ALREADY FILLED ONE IN FOR THE ADJOURNED APPEAL)

When you can expect your tribunal to be heard
currently we are experiencing a very high volume of cases & as such
you are not likely to hear from us with a time & date for you hearing before
APRIL 2010

christine_chris_chrissy

I have been reading through the above letters I need the confused button
can any one else see a problem with the above letters?? or is it just me!
I think I need to ring the tribunals & let them know they have made a mistake again,I am worried if I don't tell them they will adjourn it again!

ChishyChoshy

Well from that it's fairly obvious that the appeals system is rather packed at the moment (ESA medical failures most likely) and as such tribunals are taking longer. Hence them adjourning yours to a later date. Not sure how cases are prioritised though.

christine_chris_chrissy

have you noticed any thing else? you may need to study the three or was it two letters(confused button),it might just be me mis-understanding it all.but I see a great big mistake come on you lot you have been quick to jump on me with my mistakes I am sure they have made one.
if you read them you will see that it was not adjourned for a later date there was a reason & part of that reason is what I think the mistake is I will phone them & try to get an answer to make sure it is not just me.

Macro_3

Are you referring to the fact that they have adjourned the appeal because your IS and HB/CTB appeal have both been withdrawn based on the same facts? Perhaps because you were under the impression that your IS has not been withdrawn?

Or the Feb/April dates.

If not, I may need a clue. Or the confused button.

christine_chris_chrissy

I am not good at wording so bear with me,...
I can't do it at the moment too tired
but look at decision notice no.1
both appeals should be heard together,
one is tittled social security
one is tittled housing benefit/c/t combined appeal
one is tittled income support
what did the judge say

christine_chris_chrissy

The judge said both tribunals to be heard together
leter dated 21/01/10
states "income support"
so wheres the LA one ?am I going to be in the same boat as last time I am getting worried about all of this they should know what to do surely