Hi Heather ,
well as long as you stated that the letter was an appeal , and that you were appealing the decision to refuse DLA because you fit the criteria for one of the components , and included your NI number then the appeal should be accepted, and will progress to Tribunal .
Reconsiderations are rarely successful unless very good evidence is supplied.
In any case if you appeal immediately then it is automatically reconsidered by the DWP.
Next step will be an information form from the Tribunals service asking whether you have a representative and whether you wish to have a written consideration or you wish to attend in person.This form needs to be completed and returned within 14 days !!.
It should be noted that people who attend themselves , either with representation or not are more successful than the written submission option.
Meanwhile it is preferable to get more evidence as stated in the leaflet i quoted between now and the tribunal. The Tribunal is about how you were at the time of your application and does not consider if your care and mobility needs have increased since then . If your care or mobility needs have increased , also re -apply for DLA .
Good luck and definitely look at the leaflet and download a copy
DLA appeals, it would have even told you how to write your appeal letter and what the DWP are after.
Invariably people fail to get DLA purely down to the fact that they haven't given enough information for the DWP Decision Maker to make a correct decision. It is about what you can and cannot do within certain parameters , not what your symptoms are .
Let us know how it goes :)
Rich
"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."