Tools and templates

Use this template to challenge the DWP's refusal to amend your client's claimant commitment to reduce the number of hours of expected work search and availability or work-related activity to what is reasonable in light of their physical or mental health condition.

Use this template to challenge a DWP delay in determining whether your client satisfies the habitual residence test (HRT) when your client has provided sufficient evidence for them to do so, and the consequent delay by DWP in deciding your client's entitlement to universal credit (UC), at all or within a reasonable time.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's failure to make enquiries when your client has explained why they are unable to provide the evidence requested to prove their right to reside and that evidence would be available to the DWP on request from HMRC or the Home Office.

Use this template to challenge a local authority's refusal to exercise their discretion not to recover an overpayment of housing benefit when a County Court Judge has recommended that the overpayment not be recovered and there is no evidence that this relevant factor has been taken into account when reaching the decision.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's decision to refuse ('close') your client's universal credit (UC) claim due to their failure to attend an interview or to provide identity or right to reside evidence when the DWP allowed insufficient time to provide the evidence, or your client was not given an opportunity to explain why they did not attend the interview, and your client has not been provided with a written decision which advises them of their appeal rights or they can no longer access the decision via their online journal as they have reclaimed UC.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's refusal to reinstate your client's legacy benefits when they were stopped following a fraudulent universal credit (UC) claim by a third party in your client's name.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's refusal to include the limited capability for work (LCW) element from the start of your client's universal credit (UC) award or at all, when your client was still receiving the work-related activity component in their ESA on the day that they claimed UC.

Use this template to challenge DWP's unreasonable delay in deciding your client's claim for universal credit (UC) when the DWP has already decided that your client satisfies the habitual residence test.

Use this template to challenge DWP's refusal to exercise discretion to make ‘split payments’ of universal credit (UC) in unequal shares where it is in the interests of the claimant and of a person with a severe disability to do so.

Use this template appeal submission for a client who has transferred from child tax credit (CTC) to universal credit (UC) under the managed migration process, if, when calculating the client’s entitlement to the UC transitional element, the DWP wrongly included a child element in the ‘indicative UC amount’ for a 19-year-old who had reached 1 September after their 19th birthday and for whom your client was getting CTC.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's unlawful refusal of old-style ESA for failure to attend a face-to-face work capability assessment when your client should have been assessed on their papers as sufficient evidence was available to the DWP to do so, or by offering a home visit when this would have been a reasonable adjustment due to your client's disability.

Use this template to challenge the DWP's failure to reassess your client's capability for work for an ongoing old-style ESA award either on their papers as sufficient evidence was available to the DWP to do so, or by offering a home visit when this would have been a reasonable adjustment due to your client's disability.