How do I challenge a benefit decision?

Key deadlines

• Ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter.
• If you asked for a written statement of reasons, you must ask within 14 days of the date on that statement.
• After the reconsideration, you have one month from the date of the mandatory reconsideration notice to appeal to a tribunal.

For PIP, your decision letter already includes the written reasons, so you do not need to ask for them.

Before you ask

Make sure you understand why the decision was made. Call the benefits office on your letter if you need it explained. This helps you say clearly what is wrong.

Be aware that the whole claim is looked at again. Your benefit could stop, stay the same, go up or go down.

How to ask, step by step

1. Call the number on your decision letter first. You can ask by phone.
2. Or ask in writing. Use the DWP form "Challenge a decision made by the Department for Work and Pensions", or write a letter. If you get Universal Credit, you can ask through your online journal.
3. Send any new evidence that supports what you say.
4. Keep a copy of everything you send and note the date.

What to include

• your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number
• the date of the decision you are challenging
• which part of the decision you think is wrong, and why

For PIP, go through the activities where you think you scored too few points. Explain how your condition affects you on more than half of days, as this is the test PIP uses, and point to evidence.

Useful evidence: new medical evidence, reports or care plans from specialists, therapists or nurses, and bank statements or payslips if the decision is about money. Only send evidence you have not sent before.

Do not send: general factsheets about your condition, medical certificates or sick notes, appointment cards or letters about tests, or bus or train tickets.

What happens next

The office that made the decision looks at it again. You then get a letter called a mandatory reconsideration notice. It tells you whether the decision has changed, and why.

If you still disagree, appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. It is independent of DWP and it is free to appeal. You usually need your mandatory reconsideration notice before you can appeal. Your decision letter will say if you can appeal straight away.

Free help

You can get free help from:

• Citizens Advice (and Citizens Advice Scotland or Advice NI in those nations)
• Advicenow, which has guides to benefit problems
• a local adviser through Advicelocal

If you miss the deadline

You can still ask after one month if you have a good reason, such as being in hospital or a bereavement. Explain why you are late when you ask. Call the number on your decision letter first. The same applies to late tribunal appeals, but a late appeal might not be accepted.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

• Wales: the same process applies as in England.
• Scotland: for Social Security Scotland benefits, such as Adult Disability Payment, you ask for a re-determination instead. You usually have 31 days, or 42 days for Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment and Carer Support Payment. Call 0800 182 2222. You can then appeal to the First-tier Tribunal within 31 days.
• Northern Ireland: you also ask for a mandatory reconsideration first. Your appeal must reach the Appeals Service within one month of the notice.

Related guides

• How do you ask for a Universal Credit mandatory reconsideration?
• How do I appeal a PIP decision?
• What happens at a PIP assessment?
• Can I get legal aid?

Where this comes from

• Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration) (GOV.UK)
• Mandatory reconsideration: before you start (GOV.UK)
• How to ask for mandatory reconsideration (GOV.UK)
• If you disagree with the outcome (GOV.UK)
• Appeal a benefit decision (GOV.UK)
• PIP Regulations 2013, regulation 7: the more than half of days rule
• How to challenge a Social Security Scotland decision (mygov.scot)
• Appeal a benefits decision (nidirect)