How to write a PIP mandatory reconsideration letter
How to write a PIP mandatory reconsideration letter that gets read
There is no official MR form — what you send is a letter (or the gov.uk online request with your
arguments written in). Decision makers read hundreds. These are the features that make yours
reviewable in minutes instead of skimmable in seconds.
Structure that works
1. Header block: full name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number, and the date of
the decision letter. Without these, your letter cannot be matched to the file quickly.
2. One-line ask: "I am asking for a mandatory reconsideration of the decision dated [date] because
I believe the descriptor choices for [activity names] are wrong."
3. Activity-by-activity argument: for each activity you dispute —
- what the decision says you can do,
- what actually happens on your worst day (the law tests reliability: safely, to an acceptable
standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time),
- which descriptor you believe you meet and why.
4. Evidence list: attach or name new evidence — GP letters, consultant letters, prescription
list, care logs, a friend or family member's witness statement.
5. Request the assessment report in the same letter if you have not received it.
What to avoid
- Diagnoses without functional impact ("I have fibromyalgia" alone says nothing — the descriptors
test what you can do, not what you are called).
- Anger at the assessor or the DWP. Facts move decisions; grievances do not.
- Blanket statements ("I can't do anything") that conflict with daily life — inconsistency is the
fastest way to lose credibility.
The free tool
The MR letter builder walks you through every field above and
produces a formatted letter to print or copy. It runs entirely in your browser — nothing is sent
anywhere, and nothing is stored.
*Process facts source-checked 2026-10-09 at gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision.*
Independent information directory · Source-checked 2026-10-09 · Independent information — not legal or benefits advice; not affiliated with the DWP.