First-tier Tribunal

Statutory tribunal with multiple Chambers hearing immigration, social security, tax, property, and other appeals.

This page covers UK-wide law. Where local procedure differs (e.g. courts or tribunals), this is noted in the relevant section.

Overview

The First-tier Tribunal was created by the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 to unify a previously fragmented tribunal system. It is divided into seven Chambers: General Regulatory, Health, Education and Social Care, Immigration and Asylum, Property, Social Entitlement, Tax, and War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation. Each Chamber hears appeals against decisions of public bodies in its area.

What it handles

Immigration and asylum appeals (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
Social security and child support appeals (Social Entitlement Chamber)
SEND appeals (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber)
Mental Health Tribunal applications (HESC Chamber)
Property disputes (Property Chamber — leasehold, residential property)
Tax appeals (Tax Chamber)
Information rights and consumer credit (General Regulatory Chamber)

Appeals

Upper Tribunal (on a point of law, with permission).

Official sources

https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/first-tier-tribunal

Last reviewed: 2026-05-21. This is legal information, not legal advice.