20Medical examination required by appeal tribunal
(1)This section applies where an appeal has been brought under section 12 above against a decision on a claim for a relevant benefit, or as to a person’s entitlement to such a benefit F1....
(2)[F2The First-tier Tribunal may, if conditions prescribed by Tribunal Procedure Rules] are satisfied, refer the person—
(a)in respect of whom the claim is made; or
(b)whose entitlement is at issue,
to a [F3health care professional approved by the Secretary of State] for such examination and report as appears to [F4the First-tier Tribunal] to be necessary for the purpose of providing [F5it] with information for use in determining the appeal.
F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F7(2A)The power under subsection (2) to refer a person to a health care professional approved by the Secretary of State includes power to specify the description of health care professional to whom the person is to be referred.]
(3)At a hearing before [F8the First-tier Tribunal, except in cases or circumstances prescribed by Tribunal Procedure Rules,] the tribunal—
(a)may not carry out a physical examination of the person mentioned in subsection (2) above; and
(b)may not require that person to undergo any physical test for the purpose of determining whether he satisfies the condition mentioned in section 73(1)(a) of the Contributions and Benefits Act.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 20(1) repealed (1.4.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), s. 28(3), Sch. 7 para. 31, Sch. 10 Pt. I (with Sch. 8); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 3-6)
F2Words in s. 20(2) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2833), art. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 157(a)(i)
F3Words in s. 20(2) substituted (3.7.2007) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), ss. 62(3), 70(1)
F4Words in s. 20(2) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2833), art. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 157(a)(ii)
F5Word in s. 20(2) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2833), art. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 157(a)(iii)
F6Words in s. 20(2) omitted (3.11.2008) by virtue of The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2833), art. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 157(a)(iv)
F7S. 20(2A) inserted (3.7.2007) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), ss. 62(4), 70(1)
F8Words in s. 20(3) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2833), art. 1(1), Sch. 3 para. 157(b)
Commencement Information
I1S. 20 in force at 4.3.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/528, art. 2(a), Sch.
I2S. 20 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)
I3S. 20 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)
I4S. 20(1)(2)(3)(a) 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)
I5S. 20(1)(2)(3)(a) in force at 6.9.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2422, art. 2(c), Sch. 1 (with art. 4, Sch. 14)
I6S. 20(1)(2)(3)(a) in force at 5.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2739, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 3, Sch. 2)