PIP Mandatory Reconsideration
What is a Mandatory Reconsideration?
A Mandatory Reconsideration is the first step in challenging a PIP decision. It is asking the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to reconsider their decision.
You normally have to ask for Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision date (the date on the decision letter). In some instances the DWP will allow you to submit a late Mandatory Reconsideration, as long as you have a valid reason, eg: illness, hospital admission or a family bereavement.
It is important to understand that if you challenge a decision, your award of PIP could be changed to a lower amount and/or for a shorter duration.
Submitting a Mandatory Reconsideration
When submitting a Mandatory Reconsideration, where possible provide any additional supporting evidence. Detailed evidence explaining how your disabilities affect you will often force the DWP to change their decision in your favour. There is no need to submit evidence already provided.
Remember to write your submission pointing out where you believe the DWP have wrongly scored you. Don’t be frightened to state what points you believe you should have been awarded for the various activities. In order to qualify for PIP there are requirements: You need to evidence how your disabilities affect you and how you struggle to carry out activities on the majority of days, to an acceptable standard, safely and reliably. It is not enough just to state this without providing supporting evidence as to how your disabilities affect you.
Pay careful attention to what the assessor has said within his/her report. If you feel the assessor has made any incorrect statements, do not hesitate to challenge this. There are many instances where claimants read the report of their assessment and question whether the DWP have mixed up their report with somebody else’s!
What happens next?
Once you have submitted your Mandatory Reconsideration, your claim will be assigned to a new case-handler within the DWP. The case handler may decide to re-assess your entire claim or may decide only to look at specific areas that you are asking to be reconsidered. The process of submitting a Mandatory Reconsideration typically takes 8-10 weeks. Once the DWP have made a decision they will write to you informing you of their decision.
If you disagree with the outcome of your Mandatory Reconsideration, you can further appeal your claim to the First-Tier Tribunal. You usually need to do this within one calendar month of the date of your Mandatory Reconsideration notice.