Whatever happened to the reform of decision making and appeals?

Abstract

The latest reform of social security decision making and appeal arrangements took place over the period 1997 to 1999 through a combination of primary legislation, new regulations and internal administrative changes. The aims of the reforms were to improve the processes for decisions and appeals, to produce a less complex, more accurate and cost-effective system for making and changing decisions, and to preserve claimants’ rights to an independent review of decisions in appropriate cases. This article looks at the evidence base for evaluating the effects of the reforms and for assessing whether they have delivered their promise of improved decision making and appeals. The conclusion is reached that the evidence base for evaluation is actually weak. What information does exist is not sufficiently transparent. There is a major gap in knowledge about the experiences of social security claimants and tribunal appellants after the reforms, which needs to be seriously addressed.