Guidance

Decision makers’ guide: Vol 1: Decision making and appeals: staff guide

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Part of: Decision makers’ guide: staff guide
• Published: 1 June 2013
• Last updated: 11 July 2017, see all updates

Guidance for DWP decision makers on decision making and appeals.

Documents

DMG Vol 1 Ch 1: Principles of decision making and evidence

Ref: DMG Vol 1 Ch 1 PDF, 314KB, 70 pages

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DMG Vol 1 Ch 2: Claims and applications

Ref: DMG Vol 1 Ch 2 PDF, 454KB, 114 pages

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DMG Vol 1 Ch 3: Revision

Ref: DMG Vol 1 Ch 3 PDF, 282KB, 54 pages

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DMG Vol 1 Ch 4: Supersession, suspension and termination

Ref: DMG Vol 1 Ch 4 PDF, 474KB, 148 pages

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DMG Vol 1 Ch 5: Work-focused interviews

Ref: DMG Vol 1 Ch 5 PDF, 340KB, 188 pages

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DMG Vol 1 Ch 6: Making appeals and staying

Ref: DMG Vol 1 Ch 6 PDF, 282KB, 124 pages

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DMG Vol 1 Annexes A to M

Ref: DMG Vol 1 Annexes A to M PDF, 280KB, 36 pages

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DMG Vol 1: Amendment 54, June 2017

Ref: DMG Vol 1 amendment 54 PDF, 197KB, 72 pages

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DMG Vol 1: Amendment 53, February 2017

Ref: DMG Vol 1 amendment 53 PDF, 149KB, 8 pages

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DMG Vol 1: Amendment 52, October 2016

Ref: DMG Vol 1 amendment 52 PDF, 437KB, 24 pages

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DMG Vol 1: Amendment 51, June 2016

Ref: DMG Vol 1 amendment 51 PDF, 328KB, 92 pages

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DMG Vol 1: Amendment 50, February 2016

Ref: DMG Vol 1 amendment 50 PDF, 170KB, 30 pages

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Details

This guidance is for DWP staff who make decisions about benefits and pensions. It helps them make decisions that are accurate and consistent.

The introduction of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment affects the guidance DWP staff use.

DWP decision makers now use Advice for decision making (instead of the DMG) for decisions that involve:

• Universal Credit
• Personal Independence Payment
• contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance for people who are eligible for Universal Credit

Why we publish this guide

We publish this guide to help people understand how we make decisions.

Information for claimants

Information for claimants about eligibility and how to claim:

• benefits
• pensions

Document information

Published: 1 June 2013

Updated: 11 July 2017

+ full page history

1. 11 July 2017 Published revised DMG volume 1, chapters 2, 3, 4 and 6 and amendment 54, which lists the amendments. Also deleted out of date amendments 48 and 49.
2. 7 April 2017 Published revised chapters 2 to 4 annotated to memos.
3. 9 March 2017 Published revised chapters 1, 4, 6 and amendment 53, which lists the amendments.
4. 16 December 2016 Published revised chapter 3 annotated to new DMG memo 25/16.
5. 27 October 2016 Published revised chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, annex D and amendment 52, which lists the amendments.
6. 9 September 2016 Published revised chapter 4 annotated to new DMG memo 20/16.
7. 6 July 2016 Published revised chapters 2, 3, 4, 6 and amendment 51, which lists the amendments.
8. 24 May 2016 Published revised chapters 2 and 4 annotated with new memo 13/16.
9. 14 April 2016 Published revised amendment 50 - page 2 - amended abbreviations and statute abbreviations.
10. 8 April 2016 Published revised chapters 2, 3, 4, 6 and annex D annotated with new memo 11/16.
11. 24 March 2016 Published revised chapters 2, 3, 4, 6 and amendment 50, which lists the amendments.
12. 5 January 2016 Published revised chapter 2 annotated with new relevant memos 28 and 29/15.
13. 26 October 2015 Added revised chapters 2 to 5. The amendments to these PDFs are listed in amendment 49.
14. 17 July 2015 Added revised chapters 2, 3 and 4. The amendments to these PDFs are listed in amendment 48.
15. 1 April 2015 Published revised chapters 3 and 4 annotated with new relevant memos 6 to 12/15.
16. 12 March 2015 Added revised chapters 2, 3, 4, 6, annexes A to M and amendment 47. The amendments to these PDFs are listed in amendment 47.
17. 11 November 2014 Added amended chapter 3 and annex E and new amendment 46.
18. 4 September 2014 Replaced chapter 3 - missing text added to paragraph 03346.
19. 20 August 2014 Replaced chapter 6 with revised version - appendix 2 added.
20. 29 July 2014 Added revised chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and amendment 45. The amendments to these PDFs are listed in amendment 45.
21. 1 May 2014 Replaced chapter 5 with revised version annotated with reference to memo 11/14 - Work-related activity and work-focused interviews for lone parents.
22. 15 April 2014 Replaced chapter 2 with revised version. See DMG memo 9/14 for details of amendment.
23. 9 April 2014 Replaced chapter 6 with revised version with new appendix 2 added.
24. 26 March 2014 Added revised chapters 2, 3, 4, 6 and annex A to M. The amendments to these PDFs are listed in amendment 44 - also added.
25. 1 June 2013 First published.

From: Department for Work and Pensions

Part of: Decision makers’ guide: staff guide