TAS - information and expenses

The Appeals Service (TAS) provides a range of information about other help that you may be entitled to such as expenses. Here are some ways of finding how you can get other help.

Confidentiality of information in Child Support or Child Maintenance cases

If you have asked the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division to keep your location confidential, then your address, or information which could reasonably be expected to lead to your location, will be withheld from the appeal papers being issued to the other party.

Expenses

Can you claim for expenses?

Yes. Normally, the Clerk at the hearing will give you a form on which to claim your expenses and a giro cheque will be sent to you later by post. Some information is given here but ask the clerk what you can claim for and what the current rates are.

Travelling expenses

if required, the clerk to the Tribunal will provide you with a form to enable you to claim a refund of public transport costs incurred
refunds cannot be made on the day
if you use your own car to travel to the Tribunal hearing you may claim expenses at the current mileage rate of 12 pence per mile

In exceptional circumstances a taxi fare may be payable but only if arranged in advance with the Appeals Service and provided one of the following criteria is satisfied:

you can provide written evidence from your GP that your disability prohibits you from using public transport, or
you can provide details that there are no suitable bus times / schedules to allow you to make your hearing on time (this will be subject to a check by the clerk)
you live outside Northern Ireland (please contact the Clerk to the tribunal before making travel arrangements)

Subsistence

To get this allowance you must be away from home for more than five hours while attending the hearing.

Compensation for loss of earnings

If you lose earnings by attending, you may claim for earnings lost on the day of the hearing. TAS cannot pay compensation for a full day if you could reasonably have worked before or after attending the hearing. Therefore, you should make arrangements with your employer so that you lose as little working time as possible.

TAS cannot pay you any more than the daily maximum amount, nor can they pay for more than three consecutive days in any one week.

If you intend claiming, you should ask your employer for a certificate to support your claim. The certificate should have your employer’s stamp on it and show details of how much you expect to lose and your hourly rate of pay.

In self-employed cases the amount payable is limited to what appears to be a reasonable amount and to the daily maximum amount. If you are self-employed, you do not need a certificate. Instead, write, “self-employed” after your occupation and work out the amount you have lost (if any) by attending the tribunal hearing.

Childminding and similar expenses

TAS can pay an allowance up to a maximum amount to cover the cost of employing a person to look after your children or an elderly or infirm close relative while you attend the tribunal hearing. The allowance will be paid on production of a receipt or a letter from the carer showing the amount you have had to pay.

If someone comes with you, for example an escort, a witness or a representative, that person may also be entitled to expenses.

A person claiming loss of earnings cannot claim childminding expenses.

Complaints procedure

A complaints procedure is in place and available to parties who are dissatisfied with the administrative service provided by The Appeals Service (NI). A leaflet entitled 'Making A Complaint - A Guide to our Complaints Procedure' is available from all of our hearing venues, the Tribunal Clerk, or may be requested by contacting the Belfast or Omagh office by phone or by e-mail.

If your complaint is about the way the Appeal Tribunal Panel has conducted your hearing then you should address your complaint to:

The Office of the President of Appeal Tribunals
6th Floor, Cleaver House,
Donegall Square North
Belfast
BT1 4NN