How to appeal to the Asylum Support Tribunal

Ask an advice agency to help you make an appeal. But if no one is helping you, read this guide for how to make an appeal on your own.

One of the Tribunal's hearing rooms

If the Home Office says you cannot have (or continue having) housing and money payments, you may be able to appeal to the Asylum Support Tribunal.

The Tribunal decides an appeal by reading your documents (paper hearing) or speaking to you (oral hearing). Most hearings will be face to face at the Tribunal in London (unless it will be difficult for you to travel).

See below:

Tip: Read Guide to writing the appeal form and What happens on the day of your appeal to find out more about oral and paper hearings.

Can I make an appeal?

Important: the Tribunal does not expect you to know the appeal rules. If the Home Office refuse or stop giving you asylum support (section 95 or section 4), and no one is helping you, make an appeal. The Tribunal will say if it can decide your appeal or not. But, the general rules are:

Section 95 support

The Tribunal will usually decide your appeal if:

You have asked for support and the Home Office refuses your application.
You are getting support and the Home Office says this must stop because you have not followed the rules ('breach of conditions').

The Tribunal will not usually decide your appeal if:

You are getting support and this stops because your asylum claim has finished (you are ‘appeal rights exhausted’).

Section 4 support

The Tribunal will usually decide your appeal if:

You have asked for support and the Home Office refuses your application.
You are getting support and the Home Office says this must stop.

The Tribunal's Powers

The Tribunal decides if you should get, or keep getting, asylum support.

The Tribunal does not decide:

where you live
what type of house you live in
how much money you get
if your asylum claim is accepted

How to make an appeal

Step 1:

Complete a Notice of Appeal form. You must write in English. If writing English is difficult, ask someone you trust to help. Ask them to read back to you what they write, so you know it is correct.
Our Guide to writing the appeal form tells you how to complete the Notice of Appeal.
The Home Office sends you a paper copy of the Notice of Appeal form with the letter which says you cannot have (or continue having) asylum support. But you can complete the form by typing on computer, if that is easier for you.

Step 2:

Send the Tribunal:

Your completed Notice of Appeal form – send a photo or scan of each page, if that is easier.
The Home Office letter which says you cannot have (or continue having) asylum support – send a photo or scan of each page, if that is easier.

Emailing the Notice of Appeal form and Home Office letter to asylumsupporttribunals@justice.gov.uk is the quickest and safest way to send the form. We strongly suggest you do this, if possible.

If you cannot send by email, post your Notice of Appeal form and Home Office letter to: Tribunals Service, Asylum Support, 2nd Floor, Import Building, 2 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BE.

When to make an appeal

If you get a Home Office letter saying support is refused or being stopped, send your Notice of Appeal to the Tribunal in the next 3 days (not including Saturday or Sunday).

You can still try to appeal after 3 days of getting the Home Office letter. But you must explain on the appeal form why your appeal is late.