PIP Mandatory Reconsideration by Phone, Letter or CRMR1 Form

When the deadline is tight and you need to get your mandatory reconsideration request logged quickly, knowing your submission options matters. GOV.UK lists phone, letter or the CRMR1 form as ways to request a PIP mandatory reconsideration. The form can be filled in on screen, but you must print and post it.

By Phone: The PIP Helpline

Number: 0800 121 4433 (free from landlines and mobiles)

Calling the PIP helpline is the fastest way to get your mandatory reconsideration on record. You tell the adviser you want to request a mandatory reconsideration, give your personal details and the date on the decision letter, and explain which activities you disagree with.

Ask the adviser for:

• Their name and operator ID
• The date and time of the call
• Confirmation that your reconsideration request has been logged

Write these details down during the call. Then follow up immediately with a written confirmation — either a letter or the CRMR1 form — repeating what you said on the phone. This gives you a paper trail if there is any dispute about whether or when your request was received.

Phone reconsideration requests have one disadvantage: you cannot attach evidence during the call. Your supporting documents still need to be posted separately.

By Post: CRMR1 Form or Letter

CRMR1 form: The official DWP mandatory reconsideration form, available on GOV.UK. Fill it in, attach any supporting evidence, and post it to the return address on your decision letter.

Written letter: If you prefer to write your own letter, head it "REQUEST FOR MANDATORY RECONSIDERATION" and include your name, National Insurance number, the decision date, and your reasons for disagreeing. Label every attached page with your name and NI number.

For either option, use Royal Mail Signed For or Special Delivery. The tracking receipt and delivery confirmation are your proof that DWP received the request within the one-month deadline. Keep a complete copy of everything you send.

Is There an Online Option?

You cannot submit a PIP mandatory reconsideration request through an online form in England and Wales. GOV.UK lists phone, letter or the CRMR1 form, which you fill in on screen, then print and post.

GOV.UK does not list an online submission route for PIP mandatory reconsiderations.

For the next stage — if your mandatory reconsideration is unsuccessful and you want to appeal to the tribunal — you can submit form SSCS1 online through the GOV.UK appeal service.

Which Method Should You Use?

If the deadline is days away: Phone first to get the request logged immediately, then follow up with the written form and evidence by post.

If you have time: Post the CRMR1 form with your supporting evidence via Signed For delivery. This creates the strongest paper trail in one submission.

If you need support completing the form: Citizens Advice and local welfare rights services can help you fill in the CRMR1 or draft a letter. Book an appointment as soon as you receive your decision — many services have waiting lists that can eat into your one-month window.

Whatever method you choose, make sure DWP receives your request within one calendar month of the date printed on the decision letter. That date is the one at the top of the letter, not the date you received it in the post.

Building a Stronger Case

Getting the request submitted on time is the first priority. Building a strong evidence base is the second. Our PIP Mandatory Reconsideration guide covers submission in detail and includes a tracker for recording call details, postal references and DWP acknowledgements alongside worksheets for structuring your challenge activity by activity.

Free advice from Citizens Advice, welfare rights teams, and Advicenow can also help you navigate the submission process.

See more England and Wales guides →