PIP Mandatory Reconsideration on Behalf of Someone Else: Carer, Appointee, and Representative Guide

Who Can Request a PIP Mandatory Reconsideration for Someone Else

If you care for someone whose PIP decision is wrong, you may be able to challenge it on their behalf — but the level of authority DWP requires depends on your relationship and legal standing.

DWP Appointee. If the claimant cannot manage their own benefit affairs because they are mentally incapable or severely disabled, DWP can appoint someone (usually a close family member) as their appointee under Regulation 33 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987. An appointee can act on the claimant's behalf in dealings with DWP, including benefit claims and related information. DWP sets up the appointeeship through a home visit and assessment.

Authorised representative. A claimant who has capacity can authorise another person — a partner, parent, friend, or advice worker — to act on their behalf. The claimant signs a written authority (there is no standard form; a signed letter stating the representative's name, relationship, and what they are authorised to do is sufficient). DWP may record this on the claim file. An authorised representative can submit the MR request, communicate with DWP, and provide evidence.

Parent or legal guardian of a child. For a young person turning 16, a parent or legal guardian can complete form CRMR1 without separate authority. If the young person cannot manage their benefits, the parent may need to apply to DWP to become an appointee for the PIP claim.

Power of Attorney. A registered LPA for property and financial affairs gives authority for benefit purposes if the donor has lost mental capacity; a health and welfare LPA does not. Tell DWP if the claimant wants the attorney to act so it can record the attorney's details. Allow time for this if it has not already been done.

Informal helpers (no formal authority). If you help someone prepare their MR — drafting the letter, gathering evidence, making phone calls — but the claimant signs and submits it themselves, no formal authority is needed. You are helping, not acting as their representative.

Requesting Authority with DWP

If you are not already a registered appointee or representative:

1. Ask the claimant to sign a written authority — a letter or note stating: "I [claimant name, NI number, date of birth] authorise [your name] to act as my representative for my PIP mandatory reconsideration. Signed [signature, date]."
2. Include this with the MR submission — attach the signed authority to form CRMR1 or your MR letter.
3. Expect DWP to verify — DWP may call the claimant to confirm the authority before discussing the case with you. This is a security check, not a refusal.

If the claimant cannot manage their benefits because they are mentally incapable or severely disabled and no appointeeship exists, contact DWP to apply for one. A parent or legal guardian can complete form CRMR1 without separate authority; another representative must have authority recognised by DWP or include the signed authority required by the form. Do not assume that an appointeeship application by itself authorises someone else to submit the MR.

How to Write the MR as a Carer or Representative

Your role is to present the claimant's daily reality accurately, not to substitute your perspective for theirs. DWP decision makers assess the claimant's functional ability, and the evidence needs to describe their experience.

However, as the person who sees them every day, your observations are directly relevant — especially for activities where the claimant may understate their difficulties (a common pattern with conditions involving low self-esteem, cognitive impairment, or normalisation of severe restrictions).

Structure the MR submission in the claimant's name:

• For each disputed descriptor, state what the DWP awarded, what the claimant believes applies, and why.
• Attach your own carer statement as supporting evidence. This is separate from the MR request itself. Describe what you do for the claimant, how often, and what happens when you are not there.
• Include medical evidence — specialist letters, GP records, therapy reports — that addresses the claimant's functional limitations.

Writing an Effective Carer Statement

A carer statement is one of the strongest forms of evidence for a PIP MR. It should be:

• Signed and dated with your full name, relationship to the claimant, and how long you have provided care.
• Specific — not "I help with everything" but "I help them dress every morning because they cannot bend to put on socks and shoes. I prepare all meals because they cannot stand at the cooker safely for more than five minutes."
• Frequency-based — "I prompt them to take medication twice daily. Without prompting, they forget at least four days out of seven."
• Honest — include what the claimant can do independently as well as what they cannot. Credibility matters, and a balanced account carries more weight than one that claims total inability.

The Deadline Still Applies

The one-month deadline runs from the date on the decision letter, regardless of who submits the MR. If the claimant is able to request the MR by phone while you are waiting for a formal appointeeship or for the LPA details to be recorded, use the number on the decision letter. A parent or legal guardian or an authorised representative can also submit form CRMR1.

Your Own Benefits as a Carer

If the claimant currently receives PIP Daily Living and you receive Carer's Allowance (£86.45 per week for 2026/27), a PIP MR that risks the Daily Living component also risks your Carer's Allowance. If PIP Daily Living is removed and it was the claimant's only qualifying disability benefit, you no longer meet the disability-benefit condition for Carer's Allowance. Factor this into the decision about whether to challenge.

Conversely, if the claimant's PIP is increased by the MR and you are not already receiving Carer's Allowance, check whether the new award qualifies you. You need to provide at least 35 hours of care per week.

Our PIP Mandatory Reconsideration guide covers the full process for both claimants and those acting on their behalf, including templates for carer statements and the MR submission.

Free advice for carers is available from Carers UK, Citizens Advice, and local welfare rights services.

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