Challenging a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Decision - Ask for Mandatory Reconsideration

Mandatory Reconsideration is the first step of challenging a PIP decision. It is asking the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to look at their decision again. 

You normally have to ask for Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision date (the date on the decision letter).

Beware that if you challenge a decision, it can be changed to make your PIP award lower or shorter. If you’re not sure whether you should challenge a decision, you can:

• Read about checking the decision on our Check a PIP decision page
• Find a local adviser to help you using our Find an advisor tool

Time limits

You normally have to ask for Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision date (the date on the decision letter).

You may be able to ask for Mandatory Reconsideration later, if:

• You requested a written statement of reasons
• You have a good reason for the delay.

Statement of reasons 

If you asked for a written statement of reasons and you received it before the normal one month deadline, you have an extra two weeks to ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration .

If you asked for a written statement of reasons and you received it after the normal one month deadline, you have two weeks from the date of the statement to ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration .

Good reason 

You can ask for Mandatory Reconsideration even if it has been more than one month since the decision date.  However, the DWP do not have to reconsider the decision unless:

• You asked for Mandatory Reconsideration as soon as possible, and
• The decision date was less than 13 months ago, and
• You have a good reason for being late.

Examples of a good reason for being late:

• You were given wrong information about your appeal by an adviser
• Your partner or relative has been very ill and you had to care for them a lot
• You have been very mentally or physically unwell and you were unable to appeal before now
• You have had problems getting post at your address.

What to do next

The best way to ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration is to write to the DWP at the address on your decision letter. You can use the Mandatory Reconsideration request form or write your request in a letter.

You can also ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration over the phone. Use the phone number at the top of your decision letter. It is a good idea to keep a record when you contact the DWP. 

What to say or write

When you ask for Mandatory Reconsideration , tell the DWP (in your phone call or in your letter):

• Your national insurance number
• The date of your decision letter
• Why you disagree with their decision
• If you are late, tell them why.

When you explain why you disagree with their decision, tell the DWP:

• How many points you think you should have scored for each activity
• What you think they did not take into account about your disability
• Give examples of things they should consider.

Checking the decision yourself can make it easier to know what to tell the DWP. Read our Check PIP decision page for tips on checking and understanding your PIP decision.

For help writing a letter, you can:

• Use the online tool on the AdviceNow website
• Find a local adviser using our Find an adviser tool