What can I do if I think I have been sanctioned unfairly?

If you think you have been sanctioned unfairly you can try to show that you had good reason for the omission or action resulting in your sanction, as a sanction should not be applied if you can show that you had 'good reason'. 'Good reason' is not defined in legislation and will depend on your circumstances.

If you think the decision to sanction you is wrong or you don't understand it you can:

• ask the department who made the decision - normally the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland (SSS) to explain the decision over the phone
• get  DWP or SSS to look at the decision again ('mandatory reconsideration or redeterimination)
• ask to be sent out a 'written statement of reasons' about the decision
• appeal the decision

Can I challenge the decision?

You can challenge a sanction decision if you are unhappy with it. To find out how to do this please refer to our 'Challenging Decisions' page.

How to contact us

You can get in touch with the Tackling Poverty Team by emailing TPteam@northlan.gov.uk or by calling the team on 01698 332551. We can advise you about the process of challenging a decision and support you with submitting a challenge and appealing a decision and we can represent you all the way to the Tribunal if required.