Challenging a universal credit decision
When to ask for a review
Ask for a review if you think a decision about your universal credit claim is wrong. This is called a 'mandatory reconsideration'.
This could be because you were:
paid the wrong amount
sanctioned when you shouldn’t have been
refused universal credit when you should be allowed to claim
You need to ask for a review within 1 month of the decision date.
If a decision letter doesn't have a date, use the date it was added to your universal credit journal.
If you miss the deadline
You can still ask for a review within 13 months of the decision date if you have a good reason for missing the 1-month deadline.
This could be because you were:
in hospital
told the wrong information by your work coach
out of the country
in need of an interpreter to understand letters
You’ll need to explain the reason when you ask for a review. You may be asked to provide evidence.
You can challenge a decision to refuse a late review at an independent tribunal.
How to ask for a review
You can ask for a review by:
writing a message in your universal credit journal
calling the number on the decision letter
completing a CRMR1 form and returning it to the address on the decision letter
writing a letter to ask for a review and sending it to the address on the decision letter
If you ask for a review online or by phone, it is usually a good idea to follow it up with a request in writing.
You should also provide your work coach at the Jobcentre with a copy of your review request.
If your universal credit journal has been closed because it was decided that you were ineligible to claim, your only option may be to write to: Freepost DWP Universal Credit Full Service.
What to include
When you ask for a review you need to include:
your name, address and contact details
your National Insurance number
the date of the decision
the reasons why you disagree with the decision
Provide additional evidence such as wage slips, bills or your tenancy agreement to back up why you think the decision is wrong.
What happens next
You should be told that your request for a review has been received.
The person who reassesses your claim will not be the same person who made the original decision. They may contact you to ask for more information if they need it. You should provide this to them as soon as you can.
When they have considered your claim, they will send you a mandatory reconsideration notice. This will tell you their new decision and why they made it.
If you’re happy with the decision, you don’t have to do anything else.
If you disagree with the decision
You can challenge the decision at an independent tribunal.
The tribunal will listen to your arguments, look at the evidence provided and tell you their decision.
Last updated: 13 December 2018
