Mandatory Reconsideration
A compulsory internal review by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a benefits decision before a claimant can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. The claimant must request mandatory reconsideration within one month of the original decision. Introduced by the Universal Credit regulations.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
If a claimant disagrees with a decision about benefits or child maintenance, they can ask for the decision to be looked at again by the decision-maker, a process known as mandatory reconsideration. It is a free, mandatory first step and, for most benefits, must be completed before the claimant is allowed to lodge an appeal with a tribunal.
A request for mandatory reconsideration must normally be made within one month of the date of the decision letter, though a late request can be accepted if there is a good reason, such as hospitalisation or bereavement. Not every decision qualifies for reconsideration — some can be appealed directly, and the original decision letter states which route applies.
The benefits covered include Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, and several others. If the claimant remains unhappy after mandatory reconsideration, the next step is to appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, part of the First-tier Tribunal.
Related terms
Official sources
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