Attendance Allowance Mandatory Reconsideration: CRMR1 Form and Appeal Steps 

A mandatory reconsideration is the mandatory first step before appealing an Attendance Allowance decision. You must request it within one month of your decision letter’s date (not receipt date), using the CRMR1 form or a written letter, addressing the DWP’s specific reasons for refusal. Most decisions are upheld at this stage more get overturned at tribunal.

Getting a rejection letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can feel like the end of the road. It isn’t. If you disagree with an Attendance Allowance decision whether you were refused entirely or given a lower rate than expected mandatory reconsideration is your legal right to have that decision reviewed.

What Mandatory Reconsideration Actually Is

Mandatory reconsideration is the DWP’s internal review process. You cannot appeal an Attendance Allowance decision directly to a tribunal the DWP must first be given the chance to look at the decision again. This applies whether you were refused Attendance Allowance altogether or awarded a lower rate than you believe you’re entitled to.

A different decision-maker than the one who made your original decision reviews your case. According to Citizens Advice, this decision-maker examines your original evidence, any new evidence you submit, and whether the law was applied correctly to your circumstances. The outcome is confirmed in writing as a “Mandatory Reconsideration Notice” a formal document that either changes your original decision or upholds it.

Importantly, if the DWP doesn’t change their decision, you haven’t lost anything by trying. You simply move to the next stage: appealing to an independent tribunal.

The CRMR1 Form vs. Writing a Letter

You have two ways to request a mandatory reconsideration: the CRMR1 form or a written letter.

The CRMR1 form is available on GOV.UK and is specifically designed for this purpose. It prompts you to provide the essential details your name, National Insurance number, the date of the decision you’re disputing, and your reasons for disagreeing.

Writing a letter instead is equally valid. The DWP doesn’t require the official form; a clear, well-structured letter carries the same weight. Your decision letter will tell you the address to send either option to.

Whichever route you choose, make sure you include:

• Your full name, address, and National Insurance number
• The date of the decision you’re challenging
• Clear reasons why you disagree with the decision
• Any new supporting evidence

Keep a copy of whatever you send. If your form or letter gets lost, or you need to refer back to it during an appeal, you’ll want your own record.

The One-Month Deadline (and What Happens If You Miss It)

You must request mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter not the date you actually received it. This distinction matters. If your letter sits unopened for a few days, that time still counts against your deadline.

If you’ve asked the DWP for a written statement of reasons explaining their decision, this one-month window can be extended by 14 days, according to Age UK.

If you’ve missed the one-month deadline

All is not lost. You can still request a mandatory reconsideration up to 13 months after the original decision date, provided you explain why your request is late. Valid reasons include:

• Illness or hospital admission
• Bereavement
• The decision letter being sent to the wrong address
• Difficulty understanding the letter due to capacity issues

As welfare benefits adviser Adam Booth explained in a discussion with Anthony Gold Solicitors, “The one-month limit can sound intimidating but should not deter a challenge. The DWP generally accepts later submissions when there is a clear and reasonable justification” (Lexology, 2026). The DWP can refuse a late request, but as long as you applied within 13 months, you retain the right to appeal to a tribunal regardless.

What DWP Actually Reviews During Reconsideration

When your case reaches a fresh decision-maker, they examine the same evidence that led to the original decision, plus anything new you’ve submitted. They check whether the reasoning behind the original decision was sound and whether the relevant rules were applied correctly to your specific care needs.

This is why simply repeating what you already said on your original application rarely works. If the DWP already reviewed that information once and reached a negative decision, resubmitting identical evidence gives the second decision-maker nothing new to reconsider.

Structuring a Strong Mandatory Reconsideration Request

The most effective mandatory reconsideration requests do three things: they reference the decision letter directly, address each specific reason for refusal, and provide facts or evidence that weren’t fully captured the first time.

Start by identifying exactly what your decision letter says. If it states you don’t need “continual supervision to avoid substantial danger,” your response needs to address that precise wording using the DWP’s own language. Citizens Advice offers this example of an effective response:

“Your letter says I’m not entitled to AA because I don’t need continual supervision to avoid substantial danger to myself or others. This is incorrect. When I’m at home I need other people to be with me at all times because I can fall and hurt myself when no one is there to watch me… I need continual supervision to avoid danger to myself.”

Notice how this example gives specific, concrete detail rather than vague reassurance. Describe your worst days, not your best ones. Mention frequency (“this happens most nights”), duration, and what would happen without support.

Evidence That Strengthens Your Case

New evidence is often the deciding factor in a successful mandatory reconsideration. Useful additions include:

• A GP or consultant letter that speaks directly to the DWP’s stated concerns, rather than a general summary of your condition
• A short care needs diary covering the past two to four weeks, showing patterns in your daily and nighttime difficulties
• Statements from family members or carers who regularly witness your care needs
• Records from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or other treatment that document functional limitations

Night-time care needs are especially easy to under-describe on the original form, yet they’re often central to qualifying for the higher rate. If your decision letter suggests your nighttime needs weren’t fully understood, this is worth addressing explicitly.

What Happens After You Submit Your Request

There’s no fixed timescale for how long a mandatory reconsideration takes Citizens Advice notes it can take several months. If you’re waiting a long time, you can contact the DWP to ask about the delay or make a formal complaint.

Once the review is complete, you’ll receive two copies of the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice. There are two main outcomes:

The decision changes in your favor. Your Attendance Allowance starts immediately and is backdated either to your original claim date (for new claims) or to the date payments stopped or reduced (for existing awards).

The decision is confirmed. According to Citizens Advice, “not many decisions are overturned at this stage. More decisions are changed after the next stage,” which is appealing to an independent tribunal.

A word of caution

Challenging a decision carries a small risk. As Citizens Advice warns, a mandatory reconsideration “could mean you end up with less AA than you were originally awarded, or nothing at all.” Your award could, in theory, be reduced or stopped rather than increased. If you’re uncertain about your case, getting advice from Citizens Advice or Age UK before submitting is worth the time.

Attendance Allowance Refused: What Comes Next

If your mandatory reconsideration notice confirms the original refusal, your Mandatory Reconsideration Notice is the document that unlocks your right to appeal. You must submit your appeal to an independent tribunal within one month of the date on that notice not the original decision.

This next stage matters because outcomes shift considerably. While specific Attendance Allowance tribunal statistics are limited, comparable data from Personal Independence Payment shows around 70% of tribunal appeals are decided in the claimant’s favor, according to Attendance Allowance Services. Tribunals are independent panels separate from the DWP that review your evidence afresh, and you can request an in-person, phone, or video hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an Attendance Allowance mandatory reconsideration take?
There’s no set timescale. The DWP has confirmed it can take several months to issue a decision. If the wait feels excessive, you can contact them directly to ask about progress or file a formal complaint about the delay.

Can I request a mandatory reconsideration by phone?
Yes, though writing is generally recommended. If you call, the DWP may discuss your case immediately and could resolve it on the spot. If they don’t change their decision during the call, confirm clearly that you still want to proceed with a formal mandatory reconsideration.

Will my Attendance Allowance payments stop while I wait for the outcome?
If you’re challenging a refusal of a new claim, you won’t have been receiving payments yet, so there’s nothing to pause. If you’re challenging a reduction to an existing award, the reduced rate typically continues during the review unless the DWP advises otherwise.

Do I need to resend my original evidence with my mandatory reconsideration request?
Not necessarily the decision-maker already has your original claim file. Focus your request on new evidence or details that weren’t fully captured the first time, addressing the specific reasons given in your decision letter.

What if my mandatory reconsideration request is rejected as too late?
If you missed the one-month deadline and the DWP won’t accept a late request within the 13-month window, they should send you information about your appeal rights so you can take your case directly to a tribunal.