Struggling with Welfare Benefits matters? Our solicitors can help you.
Experienced Welfare Benefits solicitors based in the Midlands.
Crystal Law Solicitors are one of the few law firms in the country that are able to provide legal advice in all areas of welfare rights and claiming benefits, from form filling to judicial review matters and complex fraud investigations.
Our benefits solicitors have over twenty years of experience in social welfare law and have assisted thousands of individuals with their lawful entitlement to welfare benefits. To fulfil a social need, we provide high-quality social welfare advice locally as well as nationally.
Crystal Law Solicitors was founded upon the ethos of providing marginalised communities and individuals a voice, and since opening we have provided hundreds of individuals with invaluable advice. We provide comprehensive, clear, cost-effective and practical legal advice to help you with any social welfare matter.
Our team have a success rate in excess of 90% overall, and we specialise in representation, advocacy, submission preparation for First-Tier and Upper Tribunal matters.
These are the 7 stages of a benefit claim, through to making an appeal and referral to the upper tribunal:
- Form filling
- Mandatory Reconsideration/Reconsideration
- Lodging Appeal with First-Tier Tribunal
- First Tier Tribunal Hearing
- Permission to appeal with First Tier Tribunal
- Permission to appeal with Upper Tribunal
- Upper Tribunal Hearing
We also assist with benefit over-payments and situations where individuals have been alleged to have committed benefit fraud. Our deep understanding of the system, non-judgemental and no-jargon approach is why so many have relied on us to resolve difficulties with their welfare benefits matters.
Get in touch with our team of welfare benefits solicitors for expert, specialist welfare benefit advice and support.
We offer expertise in all matters of Welfare Benefits. Explore our specialisms >
Expert Welfare Benefit Solicitors
Our team can help with a wide range of welfare benefit legal issues including being hit with a benefit fraud allegation, overpayments of benefit (refers to a situation in which a person receives more welfare benefits than they are eligible for) - or even underpayments of benefit. There can be many technical rules and types of welfare benefits that can be tricky to understand or know how to handle. The specialist teams at Crystal Law can offer sound expert advice when dealing with your case and benefit entitlement, supporting you through the entire process.
As specialist benefit fraud solicitors, we have a proven track record of successfully appealing all kinds of welfare benefit cases including child benefits, housing benefits, tax credits, and more.
Get in touch for help and advice today.
Welfare Benefit Appeals
If you disagree with a decision made by a benefits agency, such as a local council or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), you typically have one month to challenge the outcome. The initial step is to request that the decision-maker reviews their decision. For DWP decisions, this process is known as a "mandatory reconsideration," while in cases involving Housing Benefit, it is referred to as a "revision."
When requesting a reconsideration or revision, it's important to explain clearly why you believe the decision is incorrect, providing any additional evidence that may support your case. This could include documents such as medical reports, financial information, or other relevant evidence that might not have been considered initially.
Should you remain dissatisfied after this review, you have the option to appeal the decision. The deadline for filing an appeal is generally one month from the date you receive the outcome of the mandatory reconsideration or revision. It is important to adhere strictly to this time frame, as missing the deadline could result in losing your right to appeal, although in some circumstances, you may be able to request an extension.
Appeals are usually handled by independent tribunals, which means that an impartial party will review the decision. When preparing for an appeal, you will need to submit an appeal form (such as an SSCS1 form for DWP-related appeals) and include any supporting documents. It’s advisable to seek legal advice or support from a welfare rights advisor at this stage to ensure that your case is well-prepared for legal proceedings.
Throughout the entire process, it’s crucial to keep detailed records of all your communications with the decision-making body. Whenever possible, maintain written documentation, including copies of letters, emails, and any forms submitted. For matters related to Universal Credit, most interactions with the DWP will occur through the online journal, which serves as a valuable written record of your correspondence with the agency.
Having a clear record can be vital if you need to present evidence of what was said or agreed upon during the reconsideration or appeal stages. This can significantly strengthen your case and ensure transparency throughout the process.