Step 1 You get a letter telling you the result of your claim or review for DLA. You have been told that your child is not entitled to anything or you think you have been given the wrong amount.

You have one month from the date on the letter to ask for a ‘mandatory reconsideration’. This is where they look at the decision again. (If one month has already passed you can still ask for a reconsideration, see Challenging a DLA decision).

Step 2  Ask the DWP to look again at their decision. This is called a mandatory reconsideration. Use our DLA mandatory reconsideration tool to write a really good letter to the DWP that sets out your case.  

The DWP will look at your claim form again, the assessment report, and any other evidence they have, to see if they will change the decision.

Step 3  The DWP will send you two copies of their reconsideration decision. You will need a copy if you wish to appeal. If their decision has been changed and you are happy with it, you can stop here. But if it has not, don’t be put off.  You have one month to ask for an appeal. (If one month has already passed you can still ask for an appeal, see How to appeal a DLA decision).

Step 4  Ask for an appeal. You can do this online or using the appeal form and posting it.  You can use the wording from the letter generated by our mandatory reconsideration tool to help you make your case. See How to appeal a DLA decision for our advice.

Step 5  The DLA office will send you and His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) an explanation of why they gave you the award that they did. Don’t be put off by the size of it.

Step 6 You need to prepare for your appeal and, if you can, send in more information about your difficulties. See How to prepare for the DLA appeal hearing for more help.

Step 7  You will be told the date of the hearing. If you have any further evidence about your child's difficulties that you haven’t yet sent, send it as soon as possible. And always have a copy with you on the day (one ready to email if it is a video hearing).

Step 8  Your child's appeal will be heard by an independent panel, called a Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. They will make a new decision.

If you are successful (and most people are), you will usually receive your extra money in 4-6 weeks. You will receive a backdated payment to when you became eligible for the higher rate, usually the date you first claimed.