PIP Mandatory Reconsideration Deadline and Late Requests

The PIP mandatory reconsideration deadline catches people out more than any other part of the process. It runs from the date on the letter, not the date you opened it, and nothing — not waiting for your assessment report, not waiting for a Citizens Advice appointment — pauses it.

The Primary Deadline: One Calendar Month

You have one calendar month from the date printed at the top of your PIP decision letter to request a mandatory reconsideration. If the letter is dated 15 March, your deadline is 15 April. If the decision is dated the 31st and the next month has fewer days (like February), the deadline falls on the last day of that shorter month.

The request must reach DWP by the deadline. If posting, use Royal Mail Signed For or Special Delivery so you have tracked proof of when it was delivered. Sending by second-class post a day before the deadline is a risk.

What Does Not Pause the Deadline

• Requesting your PA4 assessment report — DWP may take weeks to send it, but the clock keeps running
• Waiting for a Citizens Advice or welfare rights appointment — many services have multi-week waiting lists
• Being unwell — unless it prevents you from communicating at all (see late requests below)
• Not understanding the decision — call the PIP helpline for clarification, but submit your request first

The safest approach when you are waiting for information: submit a brief reconsideration request within the one-month window naming the activities you dispute, and state that detailed reasons and evidence will follow. This locks in your right to a reconsideration.

Late Requests: The 13-Month Backstop

If you miss the one-month deadline, you may still be able to request a mandatory reconsideration under the late-request provisions. The request must be made within 12 months after the ordinary one-month deadline (up to 13 months from the date on the decision letter).

The DWP will accept a late request only if it is satisfied that:

1. It is reasonable to extend the time limit
2. Special circumstances made it impracticable to apply within the original deadline

The word "impracticable" is key — it is a higher bar than "difficult" or "inconvenient." DWP examples of accepted special circumstances include:

• Hospital admission or inpatient treatment during the deadline period
• A severe mental health crisis that prevented you from managing correspondence
• Bereavement of an immediate family member

You need to explain clearly what happened, when it happened, and why it made it impracticable to submit the request in time. Attach supporting evidence where possible — hospital discharge paperwork, a GP letter confirming a crisis period, a death certificate.

Beyond 13 Months

If more than 12 months have passed since the ordinary one-month deadline (up to 13 months from the date on the decision letter), the late-request mechanism is no longer available for an ordinary "any grounds" revision. However, the decision may still be revised at any time on specified grounds — for example, if there was an official error in the original decision. These are narrow and fact-specific situations.

If you are outside the 13-month window, a new PIP claim may be the most practical route forward, especially if your circumstances have changed since the original decision.

Protecting Your Position

If your deadline is approaching and you have not gathered your evidence:

1. Call the PIP helpline on 0800 121 4433 to log a verbal reconsideration request
2. Immediately follow up with a written request — CRMR1 form or a letter — posted via Signed For or Special Delivery
3. State that detailed grounds and supporting evidence will follow
4. Continue gathering your evidence and send it separately as soon as it is ready

This approach protects your deadline while giving you time to build a thorough case.

Planning Ahead

Our PIP Mandatory Reconsideration guide includes a deadline tracker worksheet that helps you calculate your dates, record submission details and track DWP acknowledgements. It also covers the late-request process with guidance on structuring your reasons for delay.

If you think you may have missed or be about to miss your deadline, contact Citizens Advice or a local welfare rights service urgently. Many can provide emergency advice by phone even when face-to-face appointments are fully booked.

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