My PIP Claim Has Been Refused, What Can I Do Next?

If your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim has been refused, you may be disappointed, frustrated or unsure what to do next.

A refusal does not necessarily mean that you have reached the end of the process.

If you think the decision is wrong, you can ask the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to look at it again.

This is called a Mandatory Reconsideration.

Start with your decision letter

Before deciding what to do, read your PIP decision letter carefully.

Look at:

whether you received any points
which activities you received points for
which activities you received no points for
the reasons given for the decision
whether the description reflects how your condition actually affects you

Try to separate the disappointment of being refused from the practical question:

What part of the decision do I think is wrong, and why?

What if I don’t understand the decision?

You do not need to understand the entire PIP system before asking for help.

Go through the decision one activity at a time.

Compare what the decision says with:

what you put on your PIP form
information you provided
what you explained during an assessment
the help you actually need
how your condition affects you most of the time

If you are struggling to understand the decision, a benefits adviser may be able to help you look through it.

What is a Mandatory Reconsideration?

A Mandatory Reconsideration asks the DWP to reconsider its decision.

You can ask for one if, for example:

you think an error has been made
important evidence has been missed
you disagree with the reasons for the decision
you believe the decision does not accurately reflect how your condition affects you

It is free to request a Mandatory Reconsideration.

Is there a time limit?

Usually, yes.

You normally need to request a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter.

If that deadline is approaching, do not ignore it while trying to collect every possible piece of evidence.

Make sure you understand the deadline and take action promptly.

A late request may sometimes be accepted if you have a good reason for the delay, but you will need to explain why it is late.

How do I ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration?

You contact the benefits office that made the decision.

You can request a Mandatory Reconsideration in the ways set out in your decision information, which can include by telephone, letter or the relevant form.

When making your request, explain which parts of the decision you disagree with and why.

Avoid simply saying:

“I disagree with the decision.”

Be as specific as you reasonably can.

Go through the activities one at a time

A structured approach can make the decision easier to challenge.

For each activity you disagree with, consider:

What did the decision say?

What actually happens when I try to do this activity?

What help, prompting or supervision do I need?

Do I use an aid or appliance?

Can I do the activity safely?

Can I do it repeatedly?

Can I do it to an acceptable standard?

Does it take me much longer?

How often am I affected?

This helps keep your explanation focused on the PIP criteria rather than simply repeating your diagnosis.

Use real examples

Specific examples can help explain what a broad statement means in everyday life.

For example, rather than only saying:

“I have difficulty preparing food.”

explain what happens when you try.

Did you need another person?

Was there a safety issue?

Did you have to stop?

Did it take substantially longer?

Do you avoid preparing food because of what happens?

How often does this occur?

Use genuine examples that accurately describe your circumstances.

Should I send more evidence?

You can provide evidence that supports why you believe the decision is wrong.

Useful evidence will depend on the issue you are challenging.

It might include relevant information from:

healthcare professionals
therapists
nurses
care or support services
other professionals who understand how your condition affects you

The most useful evidence is usually information that helps explain the particular difficulty in dispute.

A document simply confirming the name of your medical condition may add relatively little if the disagreement is about how the condition affects an activity.

Do I need to send everything again?

Usually, concentrate on relevant evidence that has not already been provided.

Think about what is missing from the information already considered.

More paperwork does not automatically make a stronger challenge.

The question is:

Does this information help explain why the decision is wrong?

What if I think the assessment report was inaccurate?

Focus on inaccuracies that matter to the PIP decision.

You may feel that several things in an assessment were wrong or unfair.

But a Mandatory Reconsideration can be clearer if it concentrates on the errors that affect the relevant activities and points.

For example:

The decision says I can prepare food independently, but I need supervision because…

or:

The decision says I can undertake journeys independently, but this does not reflect…

Then explain what actually happens.

What if I received some PIP but think the award is wrong?

Mandatory Reconsideration is not only for people whose claim was completely refused.

You can also challenge a decision if you believe:

you should have received the other component
you should have received the enhanced rather than standard rate
the length or terms of the award are wrong

However, when you ask for Mandatory Reconsideration, the DWP looks at the benefit decision again.

The outcome could potentially stay the same, increase, decrease or stop.

If you already have an award and are considering challenging it, getting independent benefits advice can help you understand the decision and your options.

What happens after I ask for reconsideration?

The DWP will reconsider the decision.

You will then receive a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice explaining the outcome.

The decision might:

stay the same
change in your favour
result in a different award

Read the notice carefully.

What if the decision still doesn’t change?

If you still disagree after Mandatory Reconsideration, you may be able to appeal.

An appeal is considered by the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, which is independent of the DWP.

You normally need your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice before you can appeal.

There is usually another time limit for starting the appeal, so check the date on your notice promptly.

Can I get help with a PIP challenge?

Yes.

You do not necessarily need to deal with the process alone.

Free benefits advice may be available through organisations such as Citizens Advice and other local or specialist advice services.

An adviser may be able to help you:

understand the decision
identify the activities in dispute
understand the PIP criteria
organise relevant evidence
prepare a Mandatory Reconsideration
understand the appeal process

Getting advice can be particularly useful if you already receive some PIP and are considering challenging the level of your award.

Don’t let the paperwork become the whole problem

A refusal can feel personal, particularly when you have spent time explaining difficulties that are already hard to live with.

Try to turn the decision into a series of smaller tasks:

Read the decision.

Check the deadline.

Identify what you disagree with.

Look at the relevant PIP activities.

Gather useful evidence.

Ask for advice if you need it.

You do not have to solve everything at once.

7.18: What Is Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?

7.21: Can I Claim PIP for a Mental Health Condition?

7.22: How Does PIP Look at How My Condition Affects Me?

7.23: What Happens at a PIP Assessment?

7.25: What Is a PIP Mandatory Reconsideration?

7.26: How Do I Challenge a PIP Decision?

11.8: Breaking Problems Into Manageable Steps

22.1: I Don’t Know Where to Start

22.8: I Don’t Understand the Letters I’ve Received

Important information

This guide provides general information and is not intended to provide benefits, legal, medical or other professional advice. PIP rules, challenge procedures and time limits can change, and individual circumstances can be different. Check the deadline shown on your decision and current official information, or seek advice from an appropriately qualified benefits adviser before making important decisions.