How to Write a PIP Mandatory Reconsideration Letter That Works
By the RightfulUK team • • 6 min read • Reviewed for accuracy
Your Mandatory Reconsideration letter is your chance to tell the DWP: "You got this wrong, and here's why."
Most MR letters fail because they're too vague. This guide shows you exactly what to include.
What NOT to Write
These phrases won't help:
❌ "I disagree with the decision" ❌ "I'm really struggling" ❌ "This isn't fair" ❌ "I need this money"
The DWP doesn't award points for hardship. They award points for meeting specific criteria. Your letter must speak their language.
The Magic Formula
For EACH activity you're challenging, include:
1. What they awarded: "I was given 0 points for Preparing Food" 2. What you should get: "I believe I meet descriptor 1e (4 points)" 3. Why, using the reliability test: - Can't do it SAFELY (risk of burns, cuts, falls) - Can't do it to ACCEPTABLE STANDARD (food undercooked, areas missed) - Can't do it REPEATEDLY (exhausted after one attempt) - Can't do it in REASONABLE TIME (takes 3x longer than normal) 4. Specific example: "Last Tuesday, I tried to make toast and left the grill on for 2 hours because I forgot" 5. Frequency: "This happens on the majority of days, at least 4-5 days per week"
The Reliability Test, Your Secret Weapon
This is the legal test the DWP must apply. If you can't do an activity:
- Safely, you score points - To an acceptable standard, you score points - Repeatedly, you score points - In a reasonable time, you score points
Most assessors ignore this. Your letter should hammer it home.
Example phrase: "I cannot prepare food reliably because I cannot do so SAFELY (I have burned myself three times this month) or REPEATEDLY (after making breakfast I am too exhausted to make lunch)."
Structure Your Letter Like This
Opening: "I am writing to request a Mandatory Reconsideration of my PIP decision dated [DATE]. My National Insurance number is [NUMBER]."
For each activity: - What they gave you - What you should get - Why (reliability test) - Evidence
Closing: "I trust you will reconsider this decision in light of the evidence provided. Please provide written reasons for any further decision."
Evidence to Include
Attach copies (never originals) of:
- GP letters or records - Consultant letters - Prescription lists - Hospital discharge summaries - Care plans - Witness statements from people who help you
Don't have much medical evidence? Your own detailed account matters. Tribunals overturn decisions based on testimony alone.
Related Articles
- PIP Denied? Here's Exactly What to Do Next (2026 Guide) — 4 min read
- Got 0 Points on PIP? Here's What Went Wrong (And How to Fix It) — 4 min read
- From 0 Points to Enhanced Rate: Sarah's Fibromyalgia PIP Appeal — 4 min read
- PIP Tribunal: What Actually Happens (From People Who've Been) — 5 min read
Related Tools & Guides
- Free PIP Eligibility Checker — estimate your likely points
- Mandatory Reconsideration Letter Builder — challenge the DWP decision
- Tribunal Preparation Tool — practice panel questions
- PIP Condition Guides — descriptors for your condition