The Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Medical Evidence) Regulations 1976, and shall come into operation on 4th October 1976.

(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the Act” means the Social Security Act 1975;

[F1“the Contributions and Benefits Act” means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992;]

“doctor” means a registered medical practitioner;

[F2“personal capability assessment” means the assessment provided for in section 171C of the Contributions and Benefits Act;]

[F3“Primary Care Trust” means a Primary Care Trust established under section 16A of the National Health Service Act 1977;]

[F4“registered midwife” means a midwife who is registered as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council under the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001;]

“signature” means, in relation to any statement or certificate given in accordance with these regulations, the name by which the person giving that statement or certificate, as the case may be, is usually known (any name other than the surname being either in full or otherwise indicated) written by that person in his own handwriting; and “signed” shall be construed accordingly.

(3) Any reference in these regulations to any provisions made by or contained in any enactment or instrument shall, except in so far as the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to that provision as amended or extended by any enactment or instrument and as including a reference to any provision which it re-enacts or replaces, or which may re-enact or replace it, with or without modification.

(4) The rules for the construction of Acts of Parliament contained in the Interpretation Act 1889 shall apply in relation to this instrument and in relation to the revocation effected by it as if this instrument, the regulations revoked by it and regulations revoked by the regulations so revoked were Acts of Parliament, and as if each revocation were a repeal.

Textual Amendments

Evidence of incapacity for work and confinement

2.—(1) [F5Subject to regulation 5] [F6where a person claims he is entitled to any benefit, allowance or advantage (other than industrial injuries benefit or statutory sick pay), and his entitlement to that benefit, allowance or advantage depends on his being incapable of work, then in respect of each day until he has been assessed for the purposes of the [F7personal capability assessment], he shall provide evidence of such incapacity][F8—

(a)by means of a certificate in the form of a statement in writing given by a doctor in accordance with the rules set out in Part I of Schedule 1 to these Regulations on the form set out in Part II of that Schedule; or

(b)where a doctor—

(i)has not given a statement under sub-paragraph (a)

of this paragraph since the patient was examined and wishes to give such a statement but more than one day has passed since the examination; or

(ii)advises that the patient should refrain from work on the basis of a written report from another doctor, set out in Part I of Schedule 1A to these Regulations on the form set out in Part II of that Schedule; or]

[F9(c)[F10where the question of whether a person is capable or incapable of work falls to be determined in accordance with the personal capability assessment] and the Secretary of State so requests, a statement in writing given by a doctor in accordance with the rules set out in Part I of Schedule 1B to these Regulations on the form set out in Part II of that Schedule; or]

[F9(d)where it would be unreasonable to require a person to provide a statement [F11in accordance with sub-paragraphs (a) to (c)], such other evidence as may be sufficient to show that he should refrain [F12(or should have refrained)] from work by reason of some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement.]

(2) Every person to whom paragraph (1) applies [F13who has not been assessed for the purposes of the [F14personal capability assessment]] shall, before he returns to work, furnish evidence of the date on which he will become fit to resume work either in accordance with rule 10 of Part I of Schedule 1 to these regulations, or by such other means as may be sufficient in the circumstances of the case.

(3) Every woman who claims maternity benefit shall furnish evidence—

(a)where the claim is made in respect of expectation of confinement, that she is pregnant and as to the stage which she has reached in her pregnancy; or

(b)where the claim is made by virtue of the fact of confinement, that she has been confined,

and shall furnish such evidence [F15by means of a maternity certificate] given by a doctor or by a [F15registered midwife] [F16not earlier than the beginning of the 20th week before the week in which she is expected to be confined,] in accordance with the rules set out in Part I of Schedule 2 to these regulations in the appropriate form as set out in Part II of that Schedule or by such other means as may be sufficient in the circumstances of any particular case.

Textual Amendments

Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1975

F173.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Transitional provisions and revocation

F184.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F19Self-certificate for first 7 days of a spell of incapacity for work

5.—[F20(1) [F21The evidence of incapacity required for the purposes of determining entitlement to a benefit, allowance or advantage referred to in regulation 2(1)]–

(a)for a spell of incapacity which lasts less than 8 days, or

(b)in respect of any of the first 7 days of a longer spell of incapacity;

  • may consist of a self certificate instead of a certificate in the form of a statement in writing given by a doctor in accordance with regulation 2(1).]

(2) For the purpose of this regulation-

  • a "self-certificate" means a declaration made by the claimant in writing, in a form approved for the purpose by the Secretary of State, that he has been unfit for work from a date or for a period specified in the declaration and may include a statement that the claimant expects to continue to be unfit for work on days subsequent to the date on which it is made;

  • [F22“spell of incapacity” has the meaning given to it by section 171B(3) of the Contributions and Benefits Act.]]

Textual Amendments

David Ennals

Secretary of State for Social Services