Welfare Benefits: The Human Rights Act

If you are unhappy about how you or your family is treated in the benefit and appeal system, you may be able to challenge the rules on benefits themselves (rather than the actual decision that has been taken, or the way your case has been handled). The European Convention on Human Rights gives you many rights, including a right to:

• peacefully enjoy your possessions. These can include benefits based on contributions you have made, such as National Insurance contributions;
• enjoy respect for family life; and
• have a fair hearing in any dispute.

The Human Rights Act makes these rights part of UK law, which means that you could use these arguments when you challenge a benefit decision. However, challenging benefit rules is a complicated step, and not one you should take without expert legal advice. For more information on this, see the Community Legal Advice leaflet, ‘The Human Rights Act’.

This content is subject to Crown Copyright

Source:

Community Legal Advice

Tags:

Contact Solicitors Now

Let the advisors at Contact Law, a service of FindLaw, guide you through the process of hiring a qualified solicitor to meet your specific needs:

• 5,000 solicitors objectively screened
• Secure and private service
• Expertise for your needs
• Contact Law is a service of FindLaw UK

Call 0800 1777 167