Reviews
You have the right to ask for a review if you are unhappy with the decision-maker’s decision on your Budgeting Loan application. You can ask for a review if you think, for example, that:
- the decision was made without the decision-maker knowing all the facts
- or the decision was wrong, or a mistake was made in your case
- or the law and/or directions have been used wrongly.
To ask for a review, write a letter to your Jobcentre Plus office within 28 days of your decision letter and let us know why you want a review. If you write after 28 days, it will help if you give the reasons why. If some-one writes in for you, add your consent in writing to the letter. But you do not have to do this if that person is your appointee.
If we cannot change the decision to the one you want, a Reviewing Officer in Jobcentre Plus will offer you an interview. The interview is usually by phone but can be face to face in certain circumstances. We will explain the reason for the decision, and you can tell us about anything which you thought was wrong, or which you think we should know. After the interview we will review your case and if we change the decision we will issue a new decision letter. If we cannot change the decision we will write and tell you why.
Further independent review
If you still think the decision is wrong, you can ask for a further review by a Social Fund Inspector. The Inspectors are independent from the Department for Work and Pensions. They can either agree with the Reviewing Officer’s decision, ask us to look at it again, or make their own decision. They will write to you explaining what their decision is, and why they reached it.
How to apply for a Social Fund Inspector’s review
To apply you can complete the tear-off application in leaflet IRS1 ”How to ask for an Independent Review on Social Fund grants and loans”. A copy of this leaflet should be enclosed with your review decision letter. Or you can write a letter saying why you want an independent review. Send your completed form or letter straight away to the:
Independent Review Service
FREEPOST,
4th Floor, Centre City Podium,
5 Hill Street,
Birmingham
B5 4UB.
If you write after 28 days, it will help if you give the reasons why. If someone writes the form or letter for you, add your consent in writing to the form or letter. But you do not have to do this if that person is your appointee.
For more information about the Independent Review Service go to www.irs-review.org.uk
