•    A Workshop was held in order to discuss the Ministry of Justice Proposals to change how Appeals are heard and the composition of Appeal Panels in Welfare Benefit cases – including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)

a)    The Government want to introduce online “Assisted Digital” programme for processing of appeals online through web chat, video chat and telephone rather than in person face to face hearings.

b)    The Government wants to reduce the number of Panel Members at the Tribunal Hearings from 3 (a legally trained member, a health expert and a disability expert) down to just 1 Panel member (a legally trained member) unless required by the circumstances.

•    Feedback was gathered and a response submitted to the Ministry of Justice on 7th November 2016.

The Assisted Digital Submission is available here and the Panel Composition Submission is available here