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