You can appeal a decision about your entitlement to benefits, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit. Before you appeal, you usually need to ask for the decision to be looked at again, which is called mandatory reconsideration. It is free to appeal, and you must appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision.
Key points
✓Before you can appeal, you usually need to ask for the decision about your benefits to be looked at again, which is called mandatory reconsideration.
✓It is free to appeal a benefit decision.
✓Appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision. If you start your appeal after a month you will have to explain why you did not do it earlier, and your appeal might not be accepted.
✓A judge and one or two experts will make a decision about the case, and the judge and experts are impartial and independent of government.
✓Of the appeals cleared at a hearing in April to June 2026, 60% overall were overturned in favour of the claimant, with PIP at 67% and ESA at 46%.
Before you can appeal, Mandatory Reconsideration
You can appeal a decision about your entitlement to benefits, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit. Before you can appeal, you usually need to ask for the decision about your benefits or Child Maintenance to be looked at again. This is called 'mandatory reconsideration'. Your decision letter will say if you can appeal straight away and do not need to ask for mandatory reconsideration.
✓Yes: You usually need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision
✓Yes: You can ask for it after one month if you have a good reason, for example if you've been in hospital or had a bereavement
✓Yes: When they have reconsidered it, you'll get a letter called a 'mandatory reconsideration notice' telling you whether they have changed the decision
✓Yes: You'll need to provide your mandatory reconsideration notice when applying for an appeal
GOV.UK says there are different processes to challenge decisions about:
✗No: Budgeting Loans
✗No: Child Benefit
✗No: Guardian's Allowance
✗No: Housing Benefit
✗No: Social Security Scotland benefits
✗No: Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare
✗No: Vaccine Damage Payment
See the Mandatory Reconsideration guide for full details on how to ask for one. There is a different process if you live in Northern Ireland or you want to appeal a decision made by Social Security Scotland.
In Scotland this works differently. If you live in Scotland you apply for Adult Disability Payment instead of PIP, and challenging a decision has its own steps and deadlines:
You ask Social Security Scotland for a re-determination, not a mandatory reconsideration. You have 42 calendar days (6 weeks) to ask. A late request can be accepted with a good reason, as long as it is no more than one year after you got the decision letter.
When they get your request, Social Security Scotland tell you how long they have to make a new decision.
You can then appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland within 31 calendar days of getting their re-determination letter, or their letter saying they could not make the decision in time. A late appeal may be accepted with a good reason, up to one year after that letter.
How to submit your appeal
1
Appeal online or by post
It is free to appeal a benefit decision. To appeal online you will need your National Insurance number, the details of the representative helping with your appeal (if you are using one), and your mandatory reconsideration notice (or the reason you did not need to have a mandatory reconsideration, which is in your decision letter). Use form SSCS1 to appeal a benefits decision by post, except if it is related to a Vaccine Damage Payment.
2
Appeal within one month
Appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision. If you start your appeal after a month you will have to explain why you did not do it earlier. Your appeal might not be accepted.
3
Choose whether to go to the hearing
You will need to choose whether you want to go to the tribunal hearing to explain your appeal in person. If you do not attend, your appeal will be decided on your appeal form and any supporting evidence you provide.
4
Provide your evidence
You can provide evidence to help the tribunal understand your condition or circumstances so they can make a decision. You can submit evidence online or by post, and you should send it as soon as you can so the tribunal have time to read it before the hearing.
You can appoint someone as a 'representative' to help you with your appeal, and anyone can be a representative, including friends and family. If you have questions about appealing a benefit decision, the benefit appeals helpline for England and Wales is on 0300 123 1142, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, or you can email contactsscs@justice.gov.uk.
What happens at the tribunal hearing
Your appeal is decided at a tribunal hearing. The tribunal will tell you the time and location of the hearing. A judge and one or two experts will make a decision about the case, and who the experts are depends on what benefit you are appealing.
✓Yes: If you attend the hearing, you'll have the opportunity to explain your appeal
✓Yes: You'll be asked questions about your condition or circumstances by the judge or the experts
✓Yes: The department that made the original decision may also be at the hearing, and they may ask questions, but they're not part of the tribunal and do not decide the result of the appeal
✓Yes: You can get support during the hearing, for example an interpreter, hearing loop or accessible tribunal room, and you can request support when you make an appeal
✓Yes: You may be able to claim for reasonable expenses for going to the tribunal, for example travel expenses
GOV.UK also says:
✗No: You cannot use your own interpreter during the hearing
It usually takes at least 6 months for an appeal to be heard by the tribunal. Your appeal might be delayed unless you send any evidence as soon as you can before the hearing, arrive at the hearing on time (if you are attending), and register your representative as soon as you can (if you are using one).
You or your representative can get an audio recording of your hearing if it was in-person or by phone or video. Recordings are free, and you should apply for a copy of the audio recording within 18 months of your hearing date.
Evidence that wins appeals
GOV.UK says evidence can include:
✓Yes: a report or care plan from a specialist, therapist or nurse
✓Yes: a letter from someone who knows you
Submit any evidence as soon as possible before the hearing so the tribunal has time to read it. Evidence will usually be shared with all parties, including your representative (if you are using one).
When you ask for mandatory reconsideration, GOV.UK says any evidence you send needs to support your reasons for why the decision was wrong. It says not to include:
✗No: general information about your condition, for example factsheets, medical certificates or sick notes
✗No: appointment cards or letters about medical appointments, unless you could not claim your benefit because you were at the appointment
✗No: letters about tests that you're due to have
✗No: bus or train tickets to prove you've made a journey
Only include evidence you have not already sent. Write your full name, date of birth and National Insurance number at the top of each bit of evidence.
After the tribunal decision
You will get the decision by post after the hearing. You may get a decision on the day if you go to the hearing.
✓Yes: You may be able to get a decision cancelled (set aside) if you think there has been a mistake in the process, and then start the appeal process again so a new decision can be made
✓Yes: You can only appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) if you think the decision was wrong for a legal reason, for example, if the tribunal did not give proper reasons for its decision, or back up the decision with facts, or apply the law properly
✓Yes: You may be able to get legal aid when you appeal to the Upper Tribunal, which can help pay for legal advice
To appeal to the Upper Tribunal you must first ask the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal for full written reasons, known as a statement of reasons, within one month of the date of the decision. You must then ask the tribunal for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal, and if it refuses, ask the Upper Tribunal for permission to appeal.
Do I have to do a Mandatory Reconsideration before I can appeal?
Before you can appeal, you usually need to ask for the decision about your benefits or Child Maintenance to be looked at again, which is called mandatory reconsideration. Your decision letter will say if you can appeal straight away and do not need to ask for mandatory reconsideration. You usually need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision, and you can ask for it after one month if you have a good reason, for example if you've been in hospital or had a bereavement.
How do I appeal to a benefits tribunal?
Appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision. It is free to appeal a benefit decision. To appeal online you will need your National Insurance number, the details of the representative helping with your appeal (if you are using one), and your mandatory reconsideration notice. Use form SSCS1 to appeal a benefits decision by post, except if it is related to a Vaccine Damage Payment.
What are the chances of winning a benefits appeal?
Of the disposals made by the SSCS tribunal in April to June 2026, 65% were cleared at hearing, and of these, 60% were overturned in favour of the claimant. This overturn rate varied by benefit type, with PIP at 67%, DLA 59%, Employment Support Allowance (ESA) 46%, and UC 45% (Ministry of Justice, Tribunal Statistics Quarterly).
How long does a benefits appeal take?
It usually takes at least 6 months for an appeal to be heard by the tribunal. Of those cases disposed of by the SSCS tribunal in April to June 2026, the mean age of a case at disposal was 37 weeks (Ministry of Justice, Tribunal Statistics Quarterly).
Can I get help preparing for a benefits appeal?
You can get free help and advice from Citizens Advice, Advicenow, or an adviser near you on Advicelocal. You can also seek advice from a legal adviser or solicitor. You can appoint someone as a representative to help you with your appeal, and anyone can be a representative, including friends and family.