Benefits, pensions, tax and immigration
Examples: Universal Credit decision, PIP refused, HMRC delay, Visa refused or delayed.
What do you need?
Pick one — each answer below says where to start and where to go next.
I want to report a problem or apply for something
Start here
Department for Work and Pensions
Claim Universal Credit online →
Why them: DWP decides most working-age benefits and the State Pension.
- Decide entitlement
- Reconsider its decision on request
- Decide Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support — those are the council's
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Portsmouth City Council — benefits
Apply for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support or the Crisis and Resilience Fund →
Why them: These locally administered schemes are council decisions.
- Assess Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
- Offer hardship support
- Decide DWP benefits
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I want to challenge a decision that has been made about me
Start here
Department for Work and Pensions — mandatory reconsideration
Ask DWP to look again at a benefit decision →
Why them: For most benefits you must ask for mandatory reconsideration before you can appeal to the independent tribunal.
- Change the decision
- Usually accept requests more than one month after the decision without a good reason
How long it should take: Request within one month of the date on the decision letter.
- Social Security and Child Support Tribunal — After mandatory reconsideration, normally within one month
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
HMRC / Home Office decision reviews
Challenge a tax decision, or ask for an immigration administrative review or tribunal appeal →
Why them: Tax and immigration decisions have their own review and tribunal routes — a complaint is the wrong tool for disputing a decision.
- Review or reverse the decision
- Be replaced by a service complaint (HMRC says complaints are only for poor service)
- Visa administrative review — If your visa decision letter offers it
- First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) — If your decision carries a right of appeal
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I need someone to help me with my case
Start here
Citizens Advice Portsmouth
Get free advice and help preparing your case → · 023 9400 6600
Why them: Independent, free advice across benefits, debt, housing, employment and consumer problems, with a drop-in office in the city centre (Ark Royal House, PO1 2GF).
- Explain your rights and options
- Help you write letters, complaints and appeals
- Make decisions on your case — the deciding body remains the council, DWP, employer or trader
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
Your MP (Portsmouth North or Portsmouth South)
Ask your MP to make representations to DWP, HMRC or the Home Office on your case →
Why them: MPs routinely take up individual cases with UK government departments; they cannot decide them.
- Write to or question ministers
- Raise the issue in Parliament
- Make representations on your behalf to UK government departments
- Direct council officers or decide council spending
- Overturn a court, tribunal or council decision
- Find a regulated immigration adviser — For immigration advice (advisers must be regulated)
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I want to change how things are done, not just fix my case
Start here
Your MP (Portsmouth North or Portsmouth South)
Ask your MP to raise national law or funding with ministers →
Why them: Only Parliament and government can change national law and national funding formulas; the MP's role is to scrutinise ministers and make representations.
- Write to or question ministers
- Raise the issue in Parliament
- Make representations on your behalf to UK government departments
- Direct council officers or decide council spending
- Overturn a court, tribunal or council decision
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
I have complained and it has not been put right
Start here
Independent Case Examiner (DWP) / Adjudicator's Office (HMRC) / Independent Examiner of Complaints (Home Office)
Take a finished departmental complaint to its independent second-tier reviewer →
Why them: Each department has a named independent reviewer that must be used before the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
- Review how the department handled your complaint
- Re-decide benefit, tax or visa entitlement — use the appeal routes
How long it should take: Home Office: UKVI replies within 20 working days; ask for a review within one month; escalate to the IEC within 3 months of the review response. DWP says it currently cannot meet its usual 15 working days.
- Adjudicator's Office (HMRC) — After HMRC first- and second-tier reviews
- Independent Examiner of Complaints (Home Office) — Within 3 months of UKVI's review response
- Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman — via your MP — After a UK government department's own complaints process (and any second-tier reviewer) is finished. By law the Ombudsman can only look at complaints about government departments if an MP refers them.
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Also useful
The Pensions Ombudsman
Complain about a workplace or personal pension scheme →
Why them: Private and workplace pension disputes are outside DWP; State Pension complaints follow the DWP route above.
- Investigate pension scheme complaints
- Deal with State Pension decisions
Checked 23 September 2026 · source
Your councillors and MP
Useful if the route above has failed, or it's about local policy. Optional: we look up your postcode once and never store it.
This tells you where to start and what comes next. It is not legal advice. Time limits shown are the ones each body publishes; always check your own decision letter, which may give a different deadline.