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 have access to a Universal Credit account and the decision is about 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. 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
National Insurance credits
Pension Credit
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Sure Start Maternity Grant
Universal Credit (including advance payments)
Winter Fuel Payment

Challenge decisions about other benefits

There are different processes to challenge decisions about:

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check if you're eligible
1. Check if you're eligible for ESA
You might also be eligible for Universal Credit.
1. Find out about Universal Credit
and Start your claim
1. Find out how to start your claim
Step 2 Attend the appointment with your work coach

You'll agree what actions you need to take to get payments. This is called a 'Claimant Commitment'.
Step 3 Get your first payment
You’ll get a letter telling you if you’ll get New Style ESA and how much.
1. How much you're paid
and Give updates about your health and circumstances
To keep getting New Style ESA you must send fit notes regularly and report any change in your circumstances.
1. Send a fit note
2. Report any change in your circumstances
Step 4 Fill in and send the ESA50 form
You'll get form ESA50 in the post within 4 weeks of your first payment. Return it within 28 days.
1. Get help filling in ESA50 form
Step 5 Attend a Work Capability Assessment
You may need to go for a Work Capability Assessment. If you do, you'll get a letter telling you where to go and when.
1. Prepare for your Work Capability Assessment
Step 6 Get a decision about how much you'll get
You'll get a letter with a decision. It will also tell you if you'll need to be assessed again.
1. How much you can get
2. You are currently viewing: Find out how to challenge the decision
To keep getting the right amount you'll need to report any change in your circumstances.
1. Report a change of circumstances
Step 7 Check if your payments will stop or if you'll be reassessed
You'll be told if your payments will stop and when.
1. Get support from Jobcentre Plus when your payments stop
If you'll need to be assessed again, you'll be sent an ESA50 form. This is normally within 3 years.

Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration)

Eligibility

Benefits this applies to

Challenge decisions about other benefits

Step 1 Check if you're eligible

and Start your claim

Step 2 Attend the appointment with your work coach

Step 3 Get your first payment

and Give updates about your health and circumstances

Step 4 Fill in and send the ESA50 form

Step 5 Attend a Work Capability Assessment

Step 6 Get a decision about how much you'll get

Step 7 Check if your payments will stop or if you'll be reassessed

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Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration)

Eligibility

Benefits this applies to

Challenge decisions about other benefits

Part of How to claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): step by step

Step 1: Check if you're eligible

and Start your claim

Step 2: Attend the appointment with your work coach

Step 3: Get your first payment

and Give updates about your health and circumstances

Step 4: Fill in and send the ESA50 form

Step 5: Attend a Work Capability Assessment

Step 6: Get a decision about how much you'll get

Step 7: Check if your payments will stop or if you'll be reassessed

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 Attend the appointment with your work coach

Step 3 Get your first payment

Step 4 Fill in and send the ESA50 form

Step 5 Attend a Work Capability Assessment

Step 6 Get a decision about how much you'll get

Step 7 Check if your payments will stop or if you'll be reassessed