Overview
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 who are supported by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). The tribunal is impartial and independent of government. The tribunal will listen to both sides before making a decision.
Before you appeal
Before you can appeal, you usually need to ask for the decision about your benefits 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.
How to appeal
It’s free to appeal a benefit decision.
Ashford Advice have benefits specialists who can help with your mandatory reconsideration and/or your appeal, please contact us as soon as your initial application is refused.
You should appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision.
Last Updated on April 23, 2026 by Ashford Advice