Appeal to Tribunal

This page explains when and how to appeal a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision to a tribunal and gives tips to help you prepare your appeal.

If you want to know what happens after you have submitted your appeal, read our First-tier Tribunal appeals process guide.

An appeal to a tribunal is the second step in challenging a PIP decision. It means asking an independent tribunal, called the First-tier Tribunal, to review the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decision.

You can only appeal after you have received a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice .

The Mandatory Reconsideration Notice tells you whether the DWP has changed its original decision and explains why.

Appealing to Tribunal process

Before you appeal

If you appeal, the tribunal will look at your whole award. This means your PIP award could stay the same, increase, decrease, or be awarded for a shorter period.

If you are unsure whether to appeal, you can:

• use the Turn2us PIP Helper to check whether the decision matches the PIP rules and whether your award appears to be correct
• read the Check a PIP decision page to better understand the decision
• use our Find an Adviser tool if you would like independent advice before deciding.

Time limits

You should start your appeal within one month of the date on your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice .

You may still be able to appeal after this if:

• You started your appeal 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.

Start your appeal

You can start your appeal by filling in an appeal form. Make sure you complete all of the form, including the grounds of appeal.

In England, Wales and Scotland, use the SSCS1 appeal form or the online form on the Gov.uk website.

In Northern Ireland, use the NOA1(SS) appeal form. 

For grounds of appeal, tell the Tribunal:

• Which decision you are challenging
• What you think the right decision should be
• Why you disagree with the DWP’s decision, for example:
  • How many points you think you should have scored for each activity
  • What information about your disability or health condition the DWP didn't take into account
  • Give examples of things the DWP should have considered

Using the Turn2us PIP Helper before completing your grounds of appeal can help you identify which activities and descriptors apply to you, the points you may be entitled to, and the information you want the tribunal to consider.

Use the Turn2us PIP Helper

For your choice of hearing, you can choose between going to a hearing yourself or having your appeal decided on the papers (without you there). It is usually better to attend a hearing. 

For help filling in the form, you can:

• Read our Check PIP decision page for guidance on understanding your choice
• Find a local adviser using our Find an Adviser tool

Gather supporting evidence

You may want to send supporting documents with your appeal.

You do not have to include evidence when you submit your appeal. However, evidence showing how your disability or health condition affects your everyday life can help the tribunal decide whether the DWP's decision was correct.

For which documents to get, read the Get documents page of our Claiming PIP guide. It is a good idea to keep a copy of everything that you send.

If you are still waiting for supporting documents, send your appeal form before the deadline. You can usually send additional evidence later.

Send appeal form

Before sending your appeal, check that:

• you have completed every section of the form
• you have signed the form
• you have included one copy of your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice .

Send your completed appeal form, your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice and any supporting documents to the address shown on the form.

After you have submitted your appeal, wait until the Tribunal Service (or the Appeals Service in Northern Ireland) has accepted your appeal and given you an appeal reference number before sending any additional documents.

What happens next

After your appeal has been accepted, the DWP will send you a bundle of papers explaining how it reached its decision.

If you can, read the health assessment report carefully and make a note of anything you disagree with. It is also helpful to read the rest of the papers, but the health assessment report is often the most important document.

You can take someone with you to the hearing, such as:

• a friend
• someone who cares for you
• an adviser or representative.

If you would like someone to represent or support you, use our Find an Adviser tool to look for local advice services.

To find out what happens after you have submitted your appeal, read our First-tier Tribunal appeals process guide.