CCM11440 - End of Year Issues: Challenging a S17 notice

Your examination was opened to consider the information shown on the original claim form or on a notification of a change of circumstances. Where the examination is not settled by 5 April it can now only be settled by a Section 18 decision following the return of the Section 17 declaration. When the Section 17 declaration is returned you should not challenge any information which has not already been included in your examination case, even if you have doubts about the accuracy of the information given on the Section 17 declaration.

For example, an examination is opened to look into child care costs. The CCO thinks that the income shown on the Section 17 declaration looks incorrect. The examination must not be extended to start looking into the claimant’s income. However, if the Section 17 includes some information about child care costs which was not disclosed during the examination, the CCO should try and clarify the position on this aspect before making the Section 18 decision.

If you have doubts about the accuracy of the information given on a S17 notice you must still proceed to close your examination on the basis of the details provided - see CCM11350. You must then alert your CCRO to the possible concerns regarding the S17 notice and if appropriate this will be made into a SIP for an enquiry.