Social Security Law

Author: (English) Neville Harris
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: Explanation of Social Security Adjudicator Decisions
This book mentions information related to decisions made by Social Security Adjudicators, whether by a single adjudicator or, in cases, by a panel of adjudicators (indicating that the case is legally particularly difficult / or has significant legal importance). Social Security Adjudicators hear appeals from both parties regarding court rulings from the Appeal Court from a legal perspective (see Chapter 8). There have been discussions recently about the way adjudicator decisions are reported. Currently, selected decisions made by adjudicators have been reported (which is very important for all adjudicators). Reported decisions are marked with the letter "R," while unreported decisions are marked with the letter "C." In either case, subsequent letters indicate the type of appeal, such as "IS" for Income Support). Numbers represent reference numbers, registration numbers, or decision numbers. The number after the asterisk indicates the year the decision was made (if unreported) or the year it was reported. So, R(IS)1/95 refers to a reported Income Support decision from 1995, while CDLA/58/1993 refers to an unreported Disability Living Allowance case from 1993.
If a Social Security Adjudicator considers a case important, they will mark it with an asterisk () and circulate it to other adjudicators. If a "T" is marked after the asterisk in the decision document, it indicates that the decision was made by a panel of adjudicators. Decisions made by English and Scottish Social Security Adjudicators are binding on the Secretary of State (or, in a more practical sense, on government officials in the Secretary of State's office) and courts, regardless of whether they are reported. However, reported decisions are generally considered to have greater authority. Decisions made by adjudicator panels are generally considered superior to those made by a single adjudicator and must be followed. Decisions made by Northern Ireland Adjudicators are considered authoritative in the United Kingdom because they are associated with different (though parallel and almost identical) legislation.