Appeal a Benefit Decision

You can appeal a decision about your entitlement to benefits, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit. 

Appeals are decided by the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. The tribunal is impartial and independent of government. The tribunal will listen to both sides before making a decision. 

How to appeal

Before you can appeal to the tribunal you must ask for the decision about your benefits to be looked at again (external link) - this is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’. 

Appeal to the tribunal (external link) within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision. If you start your appeal after a month you’ll have to explain why you did not do it earlier. Your appeal might not be accepted. 

After you submit your appeal, you can provide evidence to the tribunal (external link). Your appeal will be decided at a tribunal hearing (external link)

Benefit decisions you can appeal 

You can appeal a decision about: 

  • 30 hours free childcare scheme 
  • Attendance Allowance 
  • Bereavement Support Payment 
  • Budgeting Loans  
  • Carer’s Allowance 
  • Child Benefit 
  • Cold Weather Payment 
  • Compensation Recovery Unit 
  • Contracted Out Employment Group 
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 
  • Disability Working Allowance 
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 
  • Health in Pregnancy Grant 
  • Home Responsibilities Protection 
  • Housing Benefit 
  • Incapacity Benefit 
  • Income Support 
  • Industrial Death Benefit 
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit 
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance 
  • Maternity Allowance 
  • Pension Credit 
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 
  • Retirement Pension 
  • Severe Disablement Allowance 
  • Sure Start Maternity Grant 
  • Tax credits 
  • Tax-Free Childcare 
  • Universal Credit 
  • Widowed Parent’s Allowance 
  • Winter Fuel Payment 

Check any letters you’ve received about your benefit if you do not know the exact name.

Also see: