Universal Credit is a benefit claimed by more than five million people across the UK.
It is given to those who are eligible, in arrears, monthly, and the money a person gets depends on their work status, whether they look after children and whether or not they have a health condition.
But a claimant may want to challenge a decision made about their Universal Credit. There could be a number of things they are unhappy with.
So, they could trigger a process known as a ‘mandatory reconsideration’. But what does that mean exactly and what happens? Here’s what we know.
Universal Credit: Can I have a benefit decision looked at again?
To have a benefit decision looked at again under a mandatory reconsideration, one of the following must apply:
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You believe the individuals who have been dealing with your Universal Credit claim have made an error or missed out important information
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You don’t agree with the decision made
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You believe the decision should be re-examined and looked at again
All a mandatory reconsideration is therefore, is requesting officials to take another look at your benefit claim. You have one month to make this request from when you receive your decision letter.
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You can make a request by writing a letter back to the address on your decision letter, making a telephone call to the Universal Credit helpline or filling in this form . Alternatively, you can fill in your journal using the Universal Credit online portal.
If you wish to find out more about your Universal Credit decision, you should check what’s known as a written statement of reasons.
In other words, the individuals dealing with your claim will provide an explanation on your case. For Universal Credit claimants, this will be in your online account. But, if you’ve not got one, you can phone the Universal Credit helpline to receive yours.
There is no time limit it will take to receive your mandatory reconsideration decision, so it can be some duration before you receive one. If officials change their decision, in what’s known as a revision, you will receive a backdated payment to when you first claimed.
But if you’re not happy with a mandatory reconsideration decision or the decision still stands, you can apply to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal to have your claim looked at once again. This is an impartial and independent body.
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