What Mandatory Reconsideration is
Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) is the DWP internal review of a PIP decision. It is free, has no hearing, and is the compulsory gateway to a tribunal appeal. A different DWP decision maker looks at the papers, plus anything new you send, and either changes the award or issues a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice explaining why the decision stands.
A short phone call saying "I disagree" almost never changes an award. A written submission that argues each disputed activity in descriptor language, with the four reliability criteria applied by name, is what shifts decisions and what a tribunal will later expect to see on file.
Is it worth it? The honest odds
26% of PIP mandatory reconsiderations cleared in the quarter ending April 2026 led to a change in award (28% over May 2021 to April 2026). Source: DWP, Personal Independence Payment: Official Statistics to April 2026, published 16 June 2026.
67% of PIP appeals decided at a tribunal hearing found in the claimant's favour (January to March 2026). Source: MoJ, Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2026, published 11 June 2026.
The practical read: a written, descriptor-argued MR is worth doing on its own merits, and it is the door to the far higher tribunal odds. Plan the MR letter so the same argument is ready to lodge on an SSCS1 if you need to.
The 1-month deadline
When is your MR deadline?
The one-month MR deadline runs from the date on your decision letter.
- On time. Within one calendar month of the date on the decision letter. Aim to post inside that window even if you phone first.
- Late (up to 13 months). You can ask for a late MR up to 13 months in total. You must set out a good reason for the delay: illness, hospital stay, bereavement, or not receiving the letter. Late acceptance is discretionary.
- Over 13 months. MR is closed. Options narrow to a fresh claim or, in rare cases, judicial review. Take advice from Citizens Advice or a local welfare rights service.
How to submit
- CRMR1 form. Download from GOV.UK, complete by hand or on screen, and post to the address on the decision letter. Straightforward for a purely written submission.
- GOV.UK online service. "Get a benefit decision looked at again" lets you type an MR request in a browser. Save a copy of what you send.
- Posted letter. A plain letter is equally valid provided it says clearly that you are requesting an MR of the PIP decision dated ..., quotes your National Insurance number, and lists the activities you dispute.
- Phone. Permitted, but the notes rarely capture the descriptor-level argument. Use only to protect the deadline, then follow up in writing the same week.
Whichever channel you use, keep a full copy and get proof of posting or a screenshot of submission. Do not send originals.
Free MR letter skeleton
A structure you can adapt. This is a scaffold with prompts, not a filled letter. Rewrite every square-bracket prompt in your own words and drop sections that do not apply.
[Your name]
[Your address]
[National Insurance number]
[Date]
Personal Independence Payment
[Address from decision letter]
Request for Mandatory Reconsideration
I am requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration of the PIP decision dated [decision letter date]. I disagree with the scoring on the activities set out below. I ask that a different decision maker looks again at my claim in light of this letter and the enclosed evidence.
Activities I dispute
For each activity, I set out the descriptor I believe applies, why it applies most of the time, and how the four reliability criteria in Regulation 4(2A) of the Social Security (PIP) Regulations 2013 apply: safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time.
Activity [number], [name of activity].
Descriptor I believe applies: [letter and wording].
What actually happens on most days: [concrete description in your own words].
Safely: [why it is not safe, or the risk that arises].
Acceptable standard: [what falls short, and what the result looks like].
Repeatedly: [what happens when you try to do it more than once in a day].
In a reasonable time: [how long it actually takes, or why you cannot start].
Evidence I rely on: [letter A, diary entry B, form section].
Repeat the block above for each disputed activity.
Enclosures
A. [GP or specialist letter, dated]
B. [Symptom or care diary covering ...]
C. [Care plan, medication list, or hospital discharge summary]
D. [Supporter or carer statement, dated]
Please confirm the outcome in writing and send the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice in duplicate so I can lodge an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal if the decision remains wrong.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
[Printed name]
Do not paste in facts you cannot support. If you have not been diagnosed with something, do not claim you have. Descriptors are about function, not labels, so a plain account of what happens on a typical day beats an inflated claim every time.
What happens next
- DWP send the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice, usually in duplicate. One copy is for you, one to submit with an SSCS1 appeal.
- If the award is changed you get a new decision letter and back-payment as appropriate.
- If the award is unchanged or still wrong, you have one calendar month from the date on the MR Notice to lodge an SSCS1 appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber).
- Award reductions at MR are rare but possible. If it happens, seek advice from Citizens Advice or a local welfare rights service immediately.
Your condition in context
Award and MR outcomes vary sharply by condition. See our PIP statistics hub for per-condition figures drawn from DWP and Stat-Xplore, and the Believability Gap study for how likely each of the 165 DWP categories is to be awarded.
Build the evidence pack
Free, seven-day evidence diary you can start today. It structures your typical day against the 12 PIP activities and the four reliability criteria, ready to attach to your MR.
Frequently asked questions
Already refused?
Draft your Mandatory Reconsideration in 5 minutes. Point-by-point on the activities you dispute, in DWP descriptor language.
Is a PIP Mandatory Reconsideration worth it?
Yes, and it is compulsory before you can appeal. 26% of PIP mandatory reconsiderations cleared in the quarter ending April 2026 led to a change in award (28% over May 2021 to April 2026). Source: DWP, Personal Independence Payment: Official Statistics to April 2026, published 16 June 2026. And 67% of PIP appeals decided at a tribunal hearing found in the claimant's favour (January to March 2026). Source: MoJ, Tribunal Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2026, published 11 June 2026. Doing MR properly in writing is what unlocks the tribunal route.
How long do I have to request a PIP Mandatory Reconsideration?
One calendar month from the date on the decision letter. Late requests can be accepted up to 13 months in total if you give a good reason for the delay, but this is discretionary. Post or submit within one month wherever possible.
Should I phone or write?
Put it in writing. A phone MR leaves no paper trail and the DWP notes rarely capture the descriptor-level argument that changes decisions. The GOV.UK online CRMR1 service or a posted letter both create a record you can rely on at tribunal.
Can I add new evidence at MR?
Yes. The MR stage is the last free chance to add anything you did not send with the PIP2 or discuss at assessment: clinic letters, medication reviews, care plans, a symptom diary, or a supporter statement. Label each item and reference it in your letter.
What happens after the MR?
You get a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice, usually in duplicate (one copy for you, one to submit with an appeal). If the decision is unchanged or still wrong, you have one month to lodge an SSCS1 appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
General information and document drafting, not benefits advice. Not affiliated with DWP or the NHS. Check current guidance at gov.uk before sending.