Part I

Decisions and Appeals
Chapter II

Social Security Decisions and Appeals

Medical examinations

Medical examination required by Secretary of State
19
1
Before making a decision on a claim for a relevant benefit, or as to a person’s entitlement to such a benefit ... , the Secretary of State may refer the person—
a
in respect of whom the claim is made; or
b
whose entitlement is at issue,
to a health care professional approved by the Secretary of State for such examination and report as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary for the purpose of providing him with information for use in making the decision.
2
Subsection (3) below applies where—
a
the Secretary of State has exercised the power conferred on him by subsection (1) above; and
b
the health care professional approved by the Secretary of State requests the person referred to him to attend for or submit himself to medical examination.
3
If the person fails without good cause to comply with the request, the Secretary of State shall make the decision against him.
Pt. 1 Ch. 2: power to transfer functions conferred (25.2.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), ss. 17, 28(2)(c) (with Sch. 8)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2: power to apply and exclude conferred (1.4.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), ss. 23(1), 28(3) (with Sch. 8); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 3-6)
Words in s. 19(1) repealed (1.4.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), s. 28(3), Sch. 7 para. 30, Sch. 10 Pt. I (with Sch. 8); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 3-6)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) by Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48), s. 171(2)(3) (as substituted (5.7.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), s. 28(3), Sch. 7 para. 19(3) (with Sch. 8); S.I. 1999/1662, art 2(b), Sch. Pt. 2 (with art. 4))
S. 19 in force at 5.7.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/1958, art. 2(1)(b), Sch. 1 (with art. 5, Sch. 12)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (1.9.1999) by The Child Benefit (Northern Ireland Reciprocal Arrangements) Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2225), regs. 1(1), 2(2), Sch.
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (1.9.1999) by The Social Security (Northern Ireland Reciprocal Arrangements) Amendment Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2227), regs. 1(1), 2(2), Sch.
S. 19 in force at 6.9.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2422, art. 2(c), Sch. 1 (with art. 4, Sch. 14)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (5.10.1999) by Tax Credits Act 1999 (c. 10), s. 20(2), Sch. 2 para. 21 (with s. 19)
S. 19 in force at 5.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2739, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 3, Sch. 2)
S. 19 in force at 18.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2860, art. 2(c), Sch. 1 (with art. 4, Schs. 16-18)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 power to apply (with modifications) conferred (11.11.1999) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), ss. 52(4)(6)(g), 89(4)(a)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified by Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5), s. 2B(1)(3)-(8) (as inserted (11.11.1999) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), ss. 57, 89(4)(a))
S. 19 in force at 29.11.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/3178, art. 2(1)(a)(2), Sch. 1 (with art. 4, Schs. 21-23)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2: power to apply conferred (8.7.2002) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), ss. 61, 63(8)(a)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 functions transferred (26.2.2003 for specified purposes, 1.4.2003 for specified purposes, 7.4.2003 in so far as not already in force) by Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), ss. 50(2)(e), s. 61, Sch. 4 para. 15; S.I. 2003/392, art. 2
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 applied (8.7.2004) by Age-Related Payments Act 2004 (c. 10), s. 5(5)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 applied (1.9.2005) by The Age-Related Payments Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1983), regs. 1(1), 7(6)
Words in s. 19(1) substituted (3.7.2007) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), ss. 62(2), 70(1)
Words in s. 19(2)(b) substituted (3.7.2007) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), ss. 62(2), 70(1)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (21.7.2008 for specified purposes, 1.1.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14), ss. 132(8), 170; S.I. 2008/3137, art. 2
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1907), regs. 1(2), 16(2)(b), Sch. 2 para. 5
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Northern Ireland Reciprocal Arrangements) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/287), regs. 1, 2(2)(d), Sch. (as varied (27.11.2016 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) in accordance with S.I. 2016/1050, regs. 1(2), 2(2), Sch.)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 power to apply (with modifications) conferred (14.11.2016 for specified purposes, 21.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Childcare Payments Act 2014 (c. 28), ss. 59(4)(a), 75(2); S.I. 2016/1083, reg. 2(g); S.I. 2017/578, reg. 3(e)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (24.7.2020) by The Universal Credit (Northern Ireland Reciprocal Arrangements) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/677), regs. 1, 2, Sch.
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Switzerland) (Citizens' Rights Agreement) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1303), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (1.1.2021) by The Social Security (Norway) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1597), arts. 1, 2(1)(2), Sch. (with art. 2(3))
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Switzerland) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1088), art. 2(1)-(3), Sch.
Pt. 1 Ch. 2 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Iceland) (Liechtenstein) (Norway) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1060), art. 2, Sch.