Interim awards
44.—(1) Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that a person is entitled to injury benefit but it appears to him that the prognosis for the injury in that particular case is uncertain in that he is unable finally to decide which level of the tariff is applicable to it, he may make an interim award relating to the specific level of the tariff of such amount as he considers appropriate in all the circumstances of the case.
(2) The Secretary of State shall specify in the interim award the period during which the award has effect and may extend, and further extend, the period during which the interim award has effect but he shall make a final award within the period of two years starting with the date on which an interim award was first made.
(3) The final award shall have effect from the date on which an interim award first had effect.
(4) Where a final award is—
(a)higher than the interim award, account shall be taken of the amount of benefit paid in accordance with the interim award and only the difference between the amount of the interim award and the amount of the final award shall be paid;
(b)lower than the interim award, no amount paid in accordance with the interim award is recoverable.