Adviser

This is a benefits expert who can give you advice about your claim. They may also be able to help you prepare for the hearing or even represent you. Even if you have a representative, it is likely that you will need to do most of the talking in the hearing because it’s about giving evidence about your own difficulties. However, it can help to have someone who understands the processes and the law on your side.

Appeal

This means the process of asking a panel of a judge and two experts who do not work for the DWP to look at your claim and see if the right decision was made. If they think the wrong decision was made, they will change it.

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.

Clerk to the Tribunal    

This is the person who organises the hearing and deals with the paperwork, including your expenses.

Department for Work and Pension (DWP)   

This is the government department that deals with most benefits, including Personal Independence Payment. Sometimes they will send somebody called a ‘Presenting Officer’ to represent them at the hearing. But try not to worry, they have not had anything to do with your PIP decision so far and they are not there to accuse you of doing anything wrong.

HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) 

This is the government department that organises the panel and the hearing.

Hearing    

This is when your appeal is looked at by the Tribunal. You can have a hearing in person when you go and speak to the Tribunal face-to-face, or you can have a hearing via video or phone call. These three types of hearing are sometimes called an ‘oral hearing.’ Or you can have a written hearing (also called a ‘paper hearing’) when the tribunal just look at the papers again on their own. We strongly advise you to go to a hearing in person or have a video hearing if you can. You have a much better chance of success if you do. 

Mandatory Reconsideration     

This means the DWP will look at their decision again. You must ask for a mandatory reconsideration before you can appeal a decision. 

Manage your appeal     

A new service from HMCTS that enables people to manage their appeal online, keeping track of progress, submitting further evidence (including video and audio), and a statement. See [link]

Representative    

This is an expert in benefits who might help you prepare for the hearing and will attend your face-to-face or video hearing to help you put your case.

Social Security and Child Support Tribunal    

This is the 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. 

Supersession    

This means having your claim looked at again because your illness or disability has worsened since the date of the decision.

SSCS1    

This is the form you can use to ask for an appeal. You can also use the online system. See advice on how to ask for an appeal. 

Tribunal Judge    

This is the person that sits in the middle of the panel. They are legally qualified. Their job is to apply the right laws to your personal situation.

Upper Tribunal    

This is like a higher court. If you were not 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. 

Video hearing    

Appeal hearings are now often held over video. To understand more about how this works, watch HMCTS’ helpful video. If you are concerned that you will not be able to access or manage a video hearing properly, or if it will make you more anxious, you can ask for a face-to-face hearing.