How to lodge an appeal

The form to use in order to lodge an Appeal is an SSCS1 form. His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) have just issued a new one, so please make sure you are using an up to date one. 

An Appeal can be lodged online or by hardcopy, so a paper form.  I always use a paper one as I always worry that completing one online, something can happen half way through, or at the end with gremlins in the computer!

You can get a copy of an SSCS1 form from justice.gov.appeals. Put SSCS1 in the search box and then when it comes up, click on Social Security and Child Support Tribunal forms. I also have the forms and can help you to complete one should you wish.

Completing the SSCS1 form

The SSCS1 form is very straight forward to complete. I always advise my clients not to put that they will accept less than 14 days’ notice for their Appeal, as we need time to prepare for it.

In the SSCS1 form, you have to state your reasons for appealing. As you have not yet seen the Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) arguments for not awarding you the benefit, I feel you should not start arguing points yet, but explain why you feel you should have been awarded the benefit. So, you may put that you feel your mental health disabilities have not been taken in to consideration. If you feel very strongly about points you feel you should have been awarded for a certain descriptor, so question, you can mention it. 

However, if you are arguing for lots of points, I would advise waiting until you prepare written submissions ready for your Appeal.

When you have completed an SSCS1 form, include with it a copy of your Mandatory Reconsideration, the DWP will have sent you two copies of it, one for you to keep and one for you to include with your SSCS1 form; post it to the address on the form, it will be to His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) by signed for post at the Post Office, then you can track it. Always write on the receipt the name of the person signing for it, the date and the time, so you have proof it arrived. 

Once HMCTS have the form, they will inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that you are appealing their decision on your benefit application. The DWP will then look at all of your case and gather all the evidence together.  This will be your initial application form, the Healthcare Professional’s (HCP) report on your assessment, the Decision Maker’s (DM) decision and report on why they have reached that decision, your Mandatory Reconsideration, the DC’s decision and report on that, your SSCS1 form and then the final decision by the DWP. All of this information will come to over 100 pages and will be sent to you and also to One Stop Advocacy if I am your representative, and is called THE BUNDLE .

The next stage is to prepare your written submissions .

One Stop Advocacy.