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Patsy McGlone
1st August 2012
Written Answer from the Minister for Social Development
Employment and Support Allowance
Appeals
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster):
To ask the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 13259/11-15,
given the impact that further medical evidence may have on Employment and
Support Allowance appeals, what consideration has been given to introducing
a questionnaire to enable claimants' GPs or specialists, to provide further
opinion and evidence before a decision is made.
(AQW
13671/11-15)
Minister for Social Development: The customer is responsible for
providing Employment and Support Allowance with all relevant medical
evidence in support of their claim to the benefit. However, there is a
procedure in place to obtain further evidence from a claimant’s GP in cases
where it is likely that the evidence may allow the healthcare professional
to advise either that significant disability is likely or that Support Group
criteria are likely to apply. On some occasions, this will remove the need
for the customer to attend a medical examination. In addition, customers are
provided with two opportunities to provide further evidence that may prevent
their claim progressing to an appeal. Social Security Agency Decision Makers
contact customers before making a disallowance decision if the existing
medical evidence does not support an award of Employment and Support
Allowance, in order to give the customer the opportunity to supply
additional medical evidence. The decision maker will take this new evidence
into account before making a final decision. The Social Security Agency also
contacts customers upon receipt of an appeal. This is to provide the
appellant with the opportunity to supply any additional evidence that may
result in the disallowance being reconsidered and therefore remove the need
for an appeal.
ENDS
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