THIS popular column by welfare rights expert Jim Strang this week deals with the new system regarding how you appeal against a Social Security decision. The new system is cleverly being introduced at stages during 1999. This article deals with the request for a revision and how one decision may supersede another.

THE NEW RULES

The new rules were covered briefly in last week's article. I suggest that you take advice before proceeding with any appeal to see if they affect you in any way.

REVISIONS

A request for a revision of a decision taken by the Secretary of State for Social Security (SOS) must be made within a month as opposed to the three months that were previously allowed. The request does not have to be made in writing, but you may have problems in proving that you have made a request should the DSS lose the telephone message or simply fail to process the request.

I suggest that you make all requests in writing and keep a copy of what you have requested. The person who makes the decision on your request for a revision does not have to take account of anything that was not in the original application so any applications made should include all the information you can supply.

SUPERSESSIONS

You can ask for the matter to be looked at again and to be superseded if there has been a change in circumstances e.g. if the decision maker decides to supersede the previous decision, you still have the right to an appeal against that decision even if it is not changed.

ASKING FOR AN APPEAL

Once a decision has been made it is final unless you can have it changed by one of the following methods: have the decision revised, supersede the decision or simply appeal the decision. Following a decision there is what is called a dispute period of one month during which you can ask for a revision. This is just another way of reducing the current three-month appeal time limit to one month.

TIME LIMITS

An appeal or revision request must be made within one month of the date the decision was sent to you. This is usually the date at the top of the letter.

ADVICE

If you get an adverse decision, then the first thing you should do is to seek advice. There are a number of advice agencies who can help. Even if you think the decision is right, then you should still seek advice from an expert in this field.

If you need to know more this or any other welfare rights matter, you can write to Jim Strang at Unit 7, 36 Beechwood Drive, Beechwood Estate, Birkenhead, enclosing an SAE. If you wish him to act on your behalf, call him on 606-1188, 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. His mobile 'phone number is 07930-104679. Jim Strang represents clients on a 'no win, no fee' basis. Details available from him.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.