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How to read your PIP decision letter

For people in England and Wales who have a PIP decision letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is self-help information, not legal advice.

Live in Scotland? See Adult Disability Payment on mygov.scot. Live in Northern Ireland? PIP is run by the Department for Communities: see nidirect.

In short

Find the date on your letter first. If you want to challenge the decision, you usually need to ask within one month of that date.
PIP has two parts. If your decision was made using points, each part is scored on its own. At least 8 points gives the standard rate. At least 12 points gives the enhanced rate.
Read the reasons. Compare them with what you told the DWP.
If you disagree, you can ask the DWP to look at the decision again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration.

Which letter do you have?

A decision letter tells you the DWP's decision about your PIP claim. This page is about this letter.
A mandatory reconsideration notice is the letter you get after you have asked the DWP to look at a decision again. GOV.UK says it tells you whether the DWP has changed the decision. If you still disagree, you can appeal to a tribunal. GOV.UK says you usually need to appeal within one month of the date of the notice. See GOV.UK: Appeal a benefit decision.

What your letter tells you

GOV.UK says your letter tells you whether you'll get PIP. If you will, it also tells you:

the date of your first payment
how long until your claim is reviewed

GOV.UK also says your PIP decision letter includes a written statement of the reasons. You do not need to ask for one.

A DWP research report, published in October 2024, describes the letter. It says the letter shows a score for each part, with notes from the decision maker explaining the scores. The research was based on interviews in early 2023, so your letter may look different.

How points decide each part

GOV.UK says there are 2 parts to PIP:

a daily living part, if you need help with everyday tasks
a mobility part, if you need help with getting around

You might get one part, both parts, or neither.

If your decision was made using points, this is how they work. Each part is made up of activities. For each activity, you get the points for the description that applies to you. These descriptions are called "descriptors". Then the points for that part are added up.

Points for one PIP part
Points for one part	What you get for that part
Fewer than 8	Nothing for that part
8 to 11	Standard rate
12 or more	Enhanced rate

GOV.UK lists the current weekly amounts for each rate.

What to check

The date. GOV.UK says you usually need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of "the date on your decision letter". If you write, your letter or form must arrive by then.
Your points. If your decision used points, look at the points for each part. Compare them with the table above.
The reasons. Read the reasons for each activity. Do they match what you told the DWP on your form and at your assessment?
Anything missing. Is anything important about how your condition affects you left out?
When your award will be reviewed. If you get PIP, check when your award will be reviewed. GOV.UK says your decision letter tells you this.

If the reasons don't match what you said

In the DWP research, all 29 people interviewed had scored zero points. Some felt the notes in their letter did not match what they had said at their assessment.

The DWP's guide for assessors says you can ask the DWP for a copy of your assessment report. Use the contact details on your decision letter to ask.

Do not let waiting for the report make you miss the time limit.

Can my award go down if I challenge it?

It can. GOV.UK says that if you ask for a mandatory reconsideration, someone will look at your whole benefit claim again. Your benefit "may stop, stay the same, increase or decrease".

So read the whole decision, not just the part you disagree with, before you decide. If you are not sure, a free adviser can help you think it through.

What if more than a month has passed?

GOV.UK says you can ask after one month. But it must be for a good reason, such as being in hospital or a bereavement. You must explain why your request is late.

Act as soon as you can. GOV.UK says to call the phone number on your decision letter first. A free adviser can also help with your next steps.

What to do next

If you agree: keep the letter safe. Note when your award will be reviewed.
If you disagree: read our guide to writing a mandatory reconsideration letter. You can use the free letter builder and plan your evidence.
To look at the activities again: use our free PIP activity check. It is not an award prediction.
For help from a person: see free, independent advice.

Sources

Sources checked 4 October 2026.

GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment, After you've applied and How much you'll get
GOV.UK, Challenge a benefit decision (mandatory reconsideration): Eligibility, Before you start, How to ask and If you disagree with the outcome
GOV.UK: Appeal a benefit decision
legislation.gov.uk: The Social Security (Personal Independence Payment) Regulations 2013, regulation 5 and regulation 6
DWP: PIP assessment guide part 1: the assessment process, paragraph 1.6.50 (updated 31 August 2026)
DWP: Experiences of PIP applicants who received zero points at assessment (published 7 October 2024)
mygov.scot: Adult Disability Payment. nidirect: Personal Independence Payment (nidirect)

RightfulUK is an independent self-help service. It is not a law firm, a welfare-rights adviser or part of the DWP.