Right to appeal Scottish Ministers’ process decisions
88.Section 61 gives an individual the right to appeal a decision by the Scottish Ministers to refuse to accept that the individual has made a valid application for assistance or for a redetermination of their entitlement. It also enables an individual to appeal a decision by Ministers that the individual has not got a good reason for seeking a re-determination after the expiry of the timescale prescribed by regulations (under section 41(4)(a)). These appeals are made to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland, with that Tribunal’s permission being required if the appeal is brought more than 31 days after the day the individual was informed of the decision. No appeal can be considered after a year has passed from the day the individual was informed of the decision. The decision of the First-tier Tribunal on an appeal, or on a request for permission to appeal, is final, meaning it cannot be appealed further.
