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Request for a mandatory reconsideration of a Department for Communities decision (Northern Ireland)
Northern Ireland · in English
€2.00This document is sold blank, to print and complete by hand.
Made for use in Northern Ireland
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For a claimant in Northern Ireland who disagrees with a Department for Communities decision on Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance, Carer's Allowance or another benefit. A written request to look again at the decision, within one month of it, or later with your reasons: it names the decision, says why it is wrong, lists new evidence, asks for the evidence used and for a mandatory reconsideration notice, the step before an appeal to The Appeals Service. The journal and the phone line are free alternatives. Posted first class. Sold blank.
- Made for use in Northern Ireland
- Last updated October 29, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Published byDocMuse
When to use this document
- The Department for Communities stopped or cut your Universal Credit in Northern Ireland and you think it is wrong.
- Your PIP assessment gave you fewer points than you should have and you want the decision looked at again.
- You have been told to pay back a benefit overpayment and you disagree.
- You want to ask for a mandatory reconsideration by letter with new evidence before an appeal.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Sender
- Sender's address
- Town or city
- Sender's postcode
- Date
- Recipient
- Recipient's address
- Recipient's postcode
- National Insurance number
- Benefit the decision is about (e.g. Universal Credit)
- Date of the decision
- Summary of the decision
- Grounds
- Reasons for asking late (only if more than a month has passed)
- Phone
- Attachments
Common questions
- Can I ask the Department for Communities to look again without writing a letter?
- Yes. For Universal Credit you can ask through your online journal or by phone; for other benefits, by phone or in writing to the office named on the decision letter. A letter helps when you want to set out your reasons and evidence in full and keep a copy of exactly what you sent. If you use the journal, save a screenshot. Advice NI, Citizens Advice Northern Ireland and Law Centre NI help free with requests and appeals.
- What is the time limit for a reconsideration request in Northern Ireland?
- One month from the date of the decision. If you are later than that, ask anyway, give your reasons and ask the Department to extend the time: it can accept a late request where that is reasonable and special circumstances made you late. A request within the month avoids that question, so ask as soon as you can. Child Benefit decisions are HMRC's, with their own process.
- What comes after a mandatory reconsideration in Northern Ireland?
- The Department sends you a mandatory reconsideration notice. If you still disagree, you can appeal to an appeal tribunal through The Appeals Service, free, normally within one month of the date of that notice, enclosing a copy of it. New evidence often matters more than how the request is worded. An advice organisation can check your evidence and help you prepare for the hearing.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
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