PIP doesn't stop automatically if you ignore the decision

If you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decision letter and do not respond within the time given, your claim does not straightforward disappear. Instead, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) treats your silence as acceptance of their decision. Your payments continue at whatever rate they set — or stop entirely if they decided you are not may have access to. You do not get a second chance to challenge it after the important date passes without taking action.

The important date to ask for a mandatory reconsideration is normally 28 days from the date on your decision letter. This is the first formal step before you can appeal to a tribunal. Missing this important date closes that door, though there are narrow ways to reopen it if you have a good reason for the delay.

Key Takeaways

  • The DWP will not contact you again about the decision — your silence means they treat it as final.
  • You have 28 days from the date on your decision letter to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, and this important date is strict.
  • If you miss the 28-day window, you can still appeal to a tribunal, but only if you can show the DWP a good reason for missing the reconsideration important date.
  • Payments continue at the rate the DWP set, so if they reduced your award or stopped it, that change takes effect whether you respond or not.
  • The longer you wait after missing the important date, the harder it becomes to convince a tribunal that your delay was reasonable.

What the DWP does when you don't respond

The DWP does not chase you for a response. Once they send the decision letter, they assume you have read it and accepted what it says. If they awarded you PIP at a certain rate, your payments continue at that rate. If they refused your claim or reduced your award, that decision stands and the change takes effect on the date stated in the letter.

You will not receive a reminder or a follow-up letter asking if you want to challenge the decision. The onus is entirely on you to act within the 28-day window. Many people miss this important date because they did not understand the letter, did not realise they could challenge it, or straightforward did not open the post in time.

The 28-day important date for mandatory reconsideration

A mandatory reconsideration is a formal request asking the DWP to look at their decision again before you go to a tribunal. You must ask for this within 28 days of the date printed on your decision letter — not 28 days from when you received it or read it. The date on the letter is what counts.

You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration by phone, in writing, or online through your account on the DWP website. The simplest route is usually a phone call to the number on your decision letter, because you get confirmation when ready. In writing, send a letter or email to the address shown on the letter, stating clearly that you want a mandatory reconsideration and why you disagree with the decision.

The DWP will then send your case to a different decision maker who will review the original decision from scratch. This can take 4 to 8 weeks. During this time, your payments continue at the current rate.

What happens if you miss the 28-day important date

Missing the important date does not automatically end your right to challenge the decision, but it makes the process much harder. You can still appeal to a tribunal, but first you must ask the tribunal for permission to appeal late. To get this permission, you need to give the tribunal a good reason for why you did not ask for a mandatory reconsideration within 28 days.

A good reason might be: you were in hospital and unable to read post, you did not receive the letter at all, you have a disability that affected your ability to understand the letter or take action, or you were given incorrect information by someone you trusted. A poor reason would be: you forgot, you did not think it mattered, or you were too busy.

The tribunal will decide whether your reason is good enough. If they say yes, you can proceed with your appeal. If they say no, your appeal is rejected and the DWP's original decision stands.

How long you have to appeal after missing reconsideration

Even if you miss the mandatory reconsideration important date, you can still appeal directly to the tribunal — but you must do so within 13 months of the date on your decision letter. After 13 months, you lose the right to appeal altogether, with very few exceptions.

However, the longer you wait, the weaker your explanation for missing the reconsideration important date becomes. A tribunal is more likely to accept "I was ill for the first month" than "I was ill for the first month and then forgot for another 11 months". If you realise you have missed the important date, act as soon as possible.

Your payments during the challenge

While you are asking for a mandatory reconsideration or appealing to a tribunal, your PIP payments continue at the rate the DWP decided. If they reduced your award, you receive the lower amount. If they refused your claim entirely, you receive nothing. The decision does not pause or revert while you challenge it.

If you later win your appeal and the tribunal orders the DWP to pay you more, you will receive back pay covering the period from when the lower rate started. This can take several weeks to process after the tribunal's decision.

How to avoid missing the important date

Open all post from the DWP when ready. The decision letter will have a clear date on it — write this date and the important date (28 days later) somewhere visible, such as on your calendar or phone. If you are unsure whether you want to challenge the decision, you can still ask for a mandatory reconsideration within the 28 days and decide later whether to proceed to a tribunal.

If you struggle to read or understand letters, ask someone you trust — a family member, friend, or adviser — to help you. Charities such as Citizens information, Disability Rights UK, and local welfare rights services offer free support in understanding PIP decisions and can help you ask for a mandatory reconsideration if you need it.

If you have a disability that makes it hard to take action within a time limit, tell the DWP. They may be able to make adjustments, such as giving you longer to respond or sending information in a format that works better for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ask for a mandatory reconsideration after 28 days if I have a good reason?

Not directly. You can only appeal to a tribunal after missing the important date, and you must ask the tribunal for permission to appeal late. You will need to explain to the tribunal why you did not ask for a mandatory reconsideration in time. The tribunal will decide if your reason is good enough.

What if I did not receive the decision letter at all?

Contact the DWP and tell them you did not receive it. Ask them to send it again and confirm the date it was originally posted. Once you have the letter, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within 28 days of that date. If you contact the DWP after the 28 days have passed, explain that you did not receive the letter — this is a strong reason to ask a tribunal for permission to appeal late.

Do my payments stop if I don't respond to the decision letter?

No. Your payments continue at whatever rate the DWP decided in the letter. If they reduced your award or refused your claim, that change takes effect on the date in the letter, regardless of whether you respond. Challenging the decision does not pause or change your payments until a tribunal orders otherwise.

How long does a mandatory reconsideration take?

Usually 4 to 8 weeks, though it can take longer if the DWP needs more information from you or your healthcare provider. You can contact the DWP to ask for an update if you have been waiting more than 8 weeks.

What if the DWP makes the same decision after mandatory reconsideration?

You can then appeal to a tribunal. You have 13 months from the date on your original decision letter to do this. The tribunal will hold a hearing and make a fresh decision based on the evidence you and the DWP present.