Make sure you understand the reason for the decision you received before you ask for mandatory reconsideration. This will help you explain why you disagree. If you ask for mandatory reconsideration, someone will look at your whole benefit claim again. Your benefit may stop, stay the same, increase or decrease. Understanding the decision you received If you need help understanding the reason for your benefit decision, call the benefits office dealing with your claim. They’ll be able to explain the reason for your benefit decision and answer any questions. You can still ask for mandatory reconsideration after you’ve spoken to your benefits office. If you want an explanation in writing You can ask for a written explanation from the benefits office dealing with your claim - known as a ‘written statement of reasons’. You do not need to do this for Personal Independence Payment - your decision letter will include a written statement. You can still ask for mandatory reconsideration, but must do this within 14 days of the date on your written statement of reasons. Get help and advice You can get free help and advice from: Citizens Advice Advicenow an adviser near you on Advicelocal You can also seek advice from a legal adviser or solicitor .

How to ask for mandatory reconsideration

Contact the benefits office that gave you the decision. You can contact them: using your journal (if you get Universal Credit) by phone by letter by filling in and returning a form for asking for mandatory reconsideration The contact details are on your decision letter. You usually need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter. If you’re writing, the letter or form must arrive by then. If you do not have your decision letter, contact the office where you applied for the benefit. There’s a different process for Child Benefit , Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare , Guardian’s Allowance , tax credits , Housing Benefit , Vaccine Damage Payment , Budgeting Loans , Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment . If you get Universal Credit You can ask for mandatory reconsideration by using your journal . If you’re unable to use your journal, you can ask for mandatory reconsideration in any of the following ways: writing to the address on your decision letter filling in and returning a form for asking for mandatory reconsideration calling the Universal Credit helpline Universal Credit helpline Telephone: 0800 328 5644 Welsh language: 0800 328 1744 Textphone: 0800 328 1344 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges What you need to provide When you ask for mandatory reconsideration, you need to give: the date of the original benefit decision your name and address your date of birth your National Insurance number Explain what part of the decision is wrong and why - you can send evidence to support your reasons. If you send evidence Any evidence you send needs to support your reasons for why the decision was wrong. It could, for example, be: new medical evidence reports or care plans from specialists, therapists or nurses bank statements or payslips Only include evidence you have not already sent. Write your full name, date of birth and National Insurance number at the top of each bit of evidence and send it to the benefit office where you applied for your benefit. You cannot claim back the cost of any evidence you pay for. Do not include: general information about your condition - for example factsheets, medical certificates or sick notes appointment cards or letters about medical appointments, unless you could not claim your benefit because you were at the appointment letters about tests that you’re due to have bus or train tickets to prove you’ve made a journey If you’re not sure what evidence to send, read the guidance for the form for asking for mandatory reconsideration . You can also call the number on your decision letter. Applying after one month You can ask for mandatory reconsideration after one month but it must be for a good reason, for example if you’ve been in hospital or had a bereavement. You must explain why your request is late. Call the phone number on your decision letter first. What happens next The benefits office that gave you the original benefit decision will reconsider it. When they’ve reconsidered it, you’ll get a letter called a ‘mandatory reconsideration notice’ telling you whether they’ve changed the decision. The mandatory reconsideration notice will explain the reasons for that decision and the evidence it was based on.

If you disagree with the outcome

You can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal if you think the decision in the mandatory reconsideration notice is wrong. The tribunal is supported by HM Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) and is independent of government. A judge will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision. You usually need to appeal within one month of the date of your mandatory reconsideration notice. You cannot appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal until you get your mandatory reconsideration notice.

Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration)

Eligibility

If you disagree with a decision about benefits, tax credits or child maintenance you can ask for the decision to be looked at again - this is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

It’s free to ask for mandatory reconsideration.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) and easy read format.

You can ask for mandatory reconsideration if any of the following apply:

you think the office dealing with your claim has made an error or missed important evidence
you disagree with the reasons for the decision
you want to have the decision looked at again

Some decisions cannot be reconsidered. Others can go straight to an appeal. Your original decision letter will say if this applies to you.

You usually need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision. You can ask for it after one month if you have a good reason, for example if you’ve been in hospital or had a bereavement.

Benefits this applies to

You can ask for mandatory reconsideration for benefits including:

Attendance Allowance
Bereavement Allowance
Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Credit
child maintenance (sometimes known as ‘child support’)
Compensation Recovery Scheme (including NHS recovery claims)
Diffuse Mesotheliomia Payment Scheme
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Funeral Expenses Payment
Income Support
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Maternity Allowance
Pension Credit
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Universal Credit (including advance payments)
Winter Fuel Payment

There’s a different process for Child Benefit, Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare, Guardian’s Allowance, tax credits, Housing Benefit, Vaccine Damage Payment, Budgeting Loans, Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check if you're eligible
1. Check if you're eligible for Universal Credit
If you've worked in the last 2 to 3 years, you may also be eligible for:
- New Style Jobseeker's Allowance if you're out of work
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance if you can't work because of illness or disability
Step 2 Create an account and make a claim
You need an online account to claim Universal Credit.
1. Set up an account and make a claim
You must submit your claim within 28 days of creating your account.

If you live with your partner, they will also need to set up an account. You'll be given a code to link the accounts together.
and Find out how your claim is assessed
You'll need to have an interview with Jobcentre Plus. You'll be told how to arrange this after you submit your claim. It will be within 10 working days.

If you have a disability or health condition you may need a work capability assessment. You'll be told if you need one after you claim.
1. What to do if you have a health condition or disability
Step 3 Apply for an advance on your first payment
If you need help with bills or other costs while you wait for your first payment, you can apply to get an advance.
1. Get an advance on your first Universal Credit payment
2. Check if you can get any other financial support
Step 4 Get your first payment
You’ll get your first payment 5 weeks after you claim. Your account will be updated to tell you how much it will be.
1. You are currently viewing: What to do if you disagree with the decision
Step 5 Report any change of circumstances
You must update your account if your circumstances change to get the right payment.
1. How to report a change in circumstances
2. What to do if your payments are stopped

Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration)

Eligibility

Benefits this applies to

Step 1 Check if you're eligible

Step 2 Create an account and make a claim

and Find out how your claim is assessed

Step 3 Apply for an advance on your first payment

Step 4 Get your first payment

Step 5 Report any change of circumstances

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Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration)

Eligibility

Benefits this applies to

Part of How to claim Universal Credit: step by step

Step 1: Check if you're eligible

Step 2: Create an account and make a claim

and Find out how your claim is assessed

Step 3: Apply for an advance on your first payment

Step 4: Get your first payment

Step 5: Report any change of circumstances

Also part of

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you're eligible

Step 2 Create an account and make a claim

Step 3 Apply for an advance on your first payment

Step 4 Get your first payment

Step 5 Report any change of circumstances