How to fill in a SSCS1 form
Section 1
Box 1 - your reconsideration notice should state that you have the
right to appeal. If it doesn’t seek advice, you may be looking at the
wrong letter.
Box 2 - Tick to say you have attached a copy of the
Reconsideration decision notice (and do attach it) - if you don’t do
this the appeal will not be logged and the form will just be sent
back to you.
Large Box 3 (if your form has one) - State the name of the benefit
you are appealing against, ie Personal Independence Payment,
Employment Support Allowance, etc.
Section 2
Your details - all details need to be given. If you only have a mobile
put the number in both boxes. If you are someone’s appointee for
benefits then it is YOUR details that go in this box
Section 3
If you have been appointed to act on behalf of someone else in
respect of their benefits put the actual claimant’s details in this
section.
Section 4
If someone has agreed to act as representative for you in respect
of this appeal put their details in this section. This may be a friend
or family member or a professional representative from an advice
agency. It is important that they have clearly agreed to do this. Do
not put someone’s details in here without them agreeing that you
can do so.
If you don’t have a representative put ‘Not yet organised’. This
allows for you to add someone as a
representative at a later
stage if they begin to help you with your appeal.
Section 5
Grounds for appeal
It is important that you give reasons why you think the decision is
wrong. It is good to start this section with something like:
‘I wish to appeal against the decision not to award me PIP (or ESA)
on the grounds that my full needs were not taken into
consideration when the decision was made. I think I should have
been awarded the following descriptors’ Then list what descriptors
you think you should have been awarded. Copies of the descriptors
for each benefit are available on our website
Give links to PIP and ESA descriptors here
Is your appeal late? - if so you need to give reasons why and why
you think they should accept the appeal despite it being late. This
may be because you or someone close to you has been ill or you
have had a bereavement or moved house and post has not reached
you. It is not unusual for late appeals to be accepted so give as
much information as you can.
Section 6
These pages are where you say what sort of appeal you want to
have.
- Do you want to attend a hearing where you can be asked about
your difficulties with personal care and mobility or do you want to
have a ‘paper’ hearing where the case is judged on the paperwork
without you having to be there. Whichever option you go for the
case will be heard by a panel independent of the DWP. If you opt to
attend it is most likely to be heard in Norwich. The advantage of
attending is that you can give the panel more information by
answering their questions. The advantage of a paper hearing is that
it may get heard quicker.
Section 7
Question 1 - Give any dates that you could not do in the next 6
months eg have you got hospital or dentist appointments, are you
due to go on holiday etc.
Question 2 - give any special needs eg. wheelchair access, hearing
loops, etc.
Question 3 - do you need an interpreter? This may be a BSL signer
or English may not be your first language.
Question 4 - Do you want a hearing at short notice? This can be
helpful if you are very anxious and just want things over as soon as
possible but not a good idea if eg you are waiting to get further
evidence which is unlikely to arrive in time or you are dependent on
someone else being available to go with you and they need more
notice. Think carefully before agreeing to a hearing at short notice.
Section 8
Your signature - very important don’t forget to sign and date the
form.
SEND THE FORM TO THE BRADFORD ADDRESS BELOW
HMCTS SSCS Appeals Centre
PO Box 1203
Bradford
BD1 9WP