If you don’t agree with the outcome of a decision made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about your claim, you can challenge it.
To do this, you need to ask the DWP or HMRC to look at their decision again – this is called asking for a ‘mandatory reconsideration’.
If you think the decision is wrong, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration for any reason.
You can ask for a reconsideration when you want to challenge:
- a decision made on a new claim
- a decision made to change your claim
- a decision made when you asked to change the claim
A decision maker will look at the decision again and decide whether to change it or keep it the same. You will not be able to appeal against the decision until you know the outcome of the reconsideration.
When to ask for a mandatory reconsideration
Your benefit decision letter must tell you the deadline for asking for the decision to be looked at again. If you’re claiming Universal Credit, you might get a message in your online account instead of a letter.
For most benefits, the deadline will be 1 month from the date the original decision was sent to you. For tax credits, you must ask for a reconsideration within 30 days of the date of the decision.
If you’ve missed the deadline it’s still worth applying for mandatory reconsideration.
If you’ve missed the deadline
If you miss the 1 month deadline, it’s still worth sending your mandatory reconsideration. You have to get it to the DWP within 13 months of the date they sent you their decision.
You’ll need to give a good reason for why you couldn’t ask before the 1 month deadline. For example, because you’d spent some time in hospital. The longer it is since the deadline, the stronger your reason will need to be.
You’ll need to write to the benefit office to explain why you missed the deadline. You can send a letter to the address on your decision letter or write a message in your Universal Credit online account, if you have one.
The DWP or HMRC can refuse your application if it’s late, but as long as you applied within 13 months you can usually still appeal that decision at a tribunal.
If you’re challenging a decision about tax credits, it might be more difficult to get HMRC to accept your mandatory reconsideration or appeal.
If you got a decision more than 13 months ago
The benefits office might change the decision if they made a mistake – known as an ‘official error’. This includes if they:
- made a mistake when calculating your benefit – for example, if they didn’t include a premium you’re entitled to
- overlooked a piece of evidence you sent them – for example, that showed you had less than £16,000 in savings
You’ll need to write to the benefit office to explain why you think they made an official error. You can send a letter to the address on your decision letter or write a message in your Universal Credit online account, if you have one.
Write ‘Request for official error revision’ at the top of your letter or in your message and include:
- your full name
- your National Insurance number – find out where you can find your National Insurance number on GOV.UK
- what the official error was
Getting details about the decision
Your decision letter might include a ‘statement of reasons’ that explains why the decision was made. If you’re claiming Universal Credit, the statement of reasons will be in your online account.
You can ask the benefits office to send you a statement of reasons if you don’t think you’ve been given one.
If they agree to send you a statement of reasons, the benefits office can extend your 1 month deadline to ask for a mandatory reconsideration.
They might refuse to send you a statement of reasons if they say you were already given one with your decision letter. This means your 1 month deadline won’t be extended.
You should ask for your mandatory reconsideration before the deadline in your decision letter – even if you’ve asked for a statement of reasons and might get an extension. If the deadline isn’t extended and you miss it, it might be harder to get a mandatory reconsideration.
How to ask for a mandatory reconsideration
Check what it says in the letter, email or message telling you about the decision. It should tell you how you can challenge the decision.
For DWP benefits
To ask for a mandatory reconsideration you can:
- write a message in your Universal Credit online account, if you have one
- use the CRMR1 mandatory reconsideration request form on GOV.UK – you’ll need to download it and fill it in, then print it off and send it by post
- write a letter
- call the DWP
It’s usually better to use your Universal Credit account, fill in the form or write a letter. This means you can keep a record of why you disagree with the decision and prove you asked for it to be looked at again.
If you’re getting close to the deadline, it’s best to call first and then confirm what you talked about in writing.
The contact details should be on your decision letter.
For HMRC benefits and tax credits
There are forms you can use to ask for a mandatory reconsideration:
- use form CH24A to ask the Child Benefit office to reconsider a Child Benefit or Guardian’s Allowance decision
- use the online service or form WTC/AP to ask for a Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit decision to be looked at again
You can write a letter or call if you prefer – the contact details should be on your decision letter. You should explain why you think the decision is wrong and ask for it to be looked at again.
Keep a copy if you use a form or write a letter – and make a note of the date you send it. Make sure you send copies of any further evidence you’ve got since you made your claim, if it will help your case.
What happens when the decision maker reconsiders the decision
Usually a different decision maker will look at the decision again. If it looks likely that based on the evidence they have, the decision is unlikely to change in your favour, the decision maker might call you to discuss your claim. They should ask you whether there is any further evidence you can give, or whether you can explain anything that is unclear about the claim.
If the decision maker needs to discuss your claim with you, they should try to call you at least twice on the same day. It is important when you ask for a reconsideration that you give a phone number where you can easily be reached.
The decision maker should make more effort to contact you if you are vulnerable and try to call you several times if they don’t manage to speak to you straight away. Make it clear if there is a reason that may make it difficult for you to answer the phone. For example, if you:
- take medication that makes you drowsy
- have mobility problems and it takes a long time to reach the phone
- have mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, which mean you may not feel able to answer the call
If the decision maker can’t contact you they will make their decision based on the information they already have.
You must send any further evidence within one month from the date of the telephone conversation with the decision maker. The decision maker will wait to receive it before they continue looking at the decision. They may give you more time if it will be difficult to get the extra information. You must explain why you need more time before the deadline for asking for a reconsideration is up.
If you don’t return any evidence within the deadline you’ve agreed with the decision maker, they will make their decision without it.
How long a mandatory reconsideration takes
There is no limit on the amount of time it will take the DWP or HMRC to reconsider the decision.
The government has said that, in a straightforward case where no additional information is needed, it should take around 14 days. But it could take longer than this.
If you think that the delay is unreasonable in your case, you could try to make a complaint.
What happens when the decision has been reconsidered
When the decision has been looked at again it will either remain the same or be changed by revision. Revision means that if the decision is changed, you will get any backdated benefit you’re owed to the date of the original decision.
It’s possible for the revision to result in your benefits being reduced. If you disagree with a revision made after a reconsideration, you can appeal to a First-Tier tribunal.
The DWP or HMRC will send you 2 Mandatory Reconsideration Notices to notify you of the outcome of the reconsideration. One copy is for you and the other is to send to the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) if you want to make an appeal. You won’t be able to appeal without a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice.
Details of your appeal rights should be included in the letter.