More than 12,000 people in Northern Ireland have challenged the Department for Communities over the outcome of their initial PIP assessment.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a new benefit that is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
It was introduced in Northern Ireland last year.
PIP is harder to get than DLA because it places less importance on your diagnosis.
It focuses instead on how well you can function on a a day-to-day basis.
More than 125,000 people in Northern Ireland will have to be re-assessed to see if they qualify for the new benefit.
BBC Spotlight has obtained figures that shows that over 35% of applicants seeking to transfer from DLA to PIP have had their benefits disallowed on the basis of their initial assessment.
Many of these people have gone on to apply for what is called a mandatory reconsideration.
It is the first part of the appeals…
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