Get Mandatory Reconsideration Notice

A Mandatory Reconsideration Notice is a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) telling you whether it has changed its decision about your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim.

The notice explains:

• whether the decision has changed
• what the new decision is (if it has changed)
• why the DWP made its decision.

Before you can receive a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice , you must ask the DWP for a Mandatory Reconsideration .

Read the Ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration page to find out when and how to request one.

How long does it take?

There is no set deadline for the DWP to complete a Mandatory Reconsideration .

Some decisions are reviewed within a couple of weeks, while others can take several months.

If you have not received your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice , it is a good idea to contact the DWP:

• after 2 weeks to check they have received and logged your request
• after 8 weeks to ask for an update
• after 12 weeks if you are still waiting.

If you are unhappy about delays, you may want to:

• make a complaint, or
• contact your MP.

During the Mandatory Reconsideration

While reviewing your decision, the DWP will usually try to contact you by phone.

If they cannot reach you, they will normally try again.

During the call, you can:

• explain anything you think the DWP has not taken into account
• tell them about any additional evidence
• let them know if you have documents that support your case.

When you receive your notice

Once the DWP has completed the Mandatory Reconsideration , it will send you a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice .

You will usually receive two copies of the notice.

Keep both copies in a safe place. If you decide to appeal, you may need to send one copy with your appeal.

If you still disagree with the decision

If you still think the decision is wrong, you can appeal to an independent tribunal.

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

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 the award appears to be correct
• read the Check a PIP decision page to understand the decision
• use our Find an Adviser tool if you would like independent advice before deciding.

Read the Appeal to Tribunal page to find out when and how to appeal.