Social Security Appeals Tribunals and the Industrial Injury Scheme

Abstract

This article deals with the main questions facing a Social Security Appeal Tribunal (S.S.A.T.) when considering entitlement to benefit under the industrial injuries compensation scheme. It gives a basic description of the scheme in an attempt to provide a birds-eye view as to how it operates. It aims to provide guidance not only for tribunal members, but also for claimants and the wide range of advisors now offering assistance in the bringing of such claims. However, it does not deal with those questions which have been exclusively reserved for the medical authorities (e.g. relating to the assessment of disablement). Nor does it consider the few peripheral matters which can only be determined by the Secretary of State. In both of these areas not only are laymen excluded from the decision-making, but also hearings are much less common. There may then be less need for guidance. This article therefore, by examining only those questions faced by S.S.A.T.s, does not seek to deal with other, at times important, issues determined elsewhere.