Step 1: Mandatory Reconsideration
You must request an MR before you can appeal. You have one month from the date on the decision letter to do so. Ask DWP to reconsider the decision in writing, by phone (keeping a note of the call) or via your UC journal. Explain which part of the decision you disagree with and why. Include any new evidence you have. DWP reviews the decision and issues an MR notice. This usually takes two to eight weeks.
What to include in your MR request
Refer to specific activities or criteria in the decision. For PIP, point to specific daily living or mobility descriptors you think were scored incorrectly. For UC, point to the specific elements or deductions you dispute. Attach medical letters, assessor reports, prescription lists or other evidence that supports your case. A targeted, specific MR is more likely to succeed than a general objection.
If the MR fails: appealing to a tribunal
If the MR does not change the decision, you receive an MR notice. You then have one month from that notice to appeal to Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. The appeal is free and goes to an independent panel, not DWP. Submit your appeal using form SSCS1 (available on GOV.UK) and include your MR notice. You can represent yourself or ask an adviser to help.
The tribunal hearing
Tribunal hearings are usually in person but can be held by video. A panel of two or three people (typically including a legally qualified judge and a medical member for PIP/ESA cases) hears both sides. You can bring a representative or supporter. The panel asks questions and reviews evidence. Decisions are usually given on the day or shortly after. Around 70% of PIP tribunal appeals result in the claimant winning or getting a higher award.
Getting help with your appeal
Citizens Advice, welfare rights units and many charities (including MIND, Scope and the MS Society for relevant conditions) offer free help with MRs and appeals. A welfare rights adviser can review your decision letter, help prepare your submission and sometimes attend the tribunal with you. Getting help significantly improves outcomes. Do not go through a complex appeal without at least seeking initial advice.
Keeping your benefit payments during an appeal
For UC, payments generally continue during a Mandatory Reconsideration and appeal, though the disputed element may not be paid until the appeal is resolved. For PIP, if you are appealing a decision to stop an existing award, your PIP usually continues at the previous rate during the appeal. Check your specific situation when you submit your MR, as the rules on continued payment vary by benefit.