Jargon buster
Adviser
This is a benefit expert who can give you advice about your claim. They may also be able to help you prepare for the hearing. Some advisers will also be able to be your representative at the hearing (see below).
Appeal
This means a panel of three experts who do not work for the DWP will look at your claim and see if the right decision was made. If they think the wrong decision was made, they will change it.
Attendance Allowance (AA)
This is a benefit for people over 65 who need help with their personal care because of their disability or long-term illness.
Carer
This is a person who helps you often, like every day or every week. It might be somebody you pay, or might be your partner, a family member, or a friend or neighbour. The help they give you might be physical help (for example to get in the bath or up the stairs), they might help you by getting your shopping or helping you prepare a meal, or they might help you by encouraging and prompting you to do things.
Chair of the Tribunal/Judge
This is the person that sits in the middle of the panel who will make a decision on your case. The other two members of the panel have to agree the new decision too.
Clerk to the Tribunal
This is the person who organises the hearing and deals with the paper work.
Department for Work and Pension (DWP)
This is the government department that deals with most benefits, including DLA and AA. It used to be called the Benefits Agency.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
This is a benefit for people under 65 who need help with their personal care or have walking difficulties because of their disability or long-term illness.
Enquiry form
This just means the form they send you with the big pack of papers. They might also call this the 'TAS1'.
First-tier Tribunal
This is the new name for the panel of three experts who do not work for the DWP who will hear your appeal to see if the DWP made the right decision.
Reconsideration (or Revision)
This means the DWP will look at their decision again.
Representative
This is an expert in benefits who will help you prepare for the hearing and will come with you to help you put your case.
Supersession
This means having your claim looked at again because your condition has worsened since the date of the decision.
TAS1
They might also call this the 'enquiry form' (see above).
Tribunal
This is the old name for the panel of three experts who do not work for the DWP who look at your claim to see if the DWP made the right decision. This is now called a First-tier Tribunal.
Tribunal Service
This is the government department that organises the panel and the hearing.
Upper Tribunal
This is like a higher court. If you weren't successful in your appeal, you might be able to appeal to the Upper Tribunal, but you can only do this if the panel made a mistake with the law. See 'What happens after the hearing?'.
