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Claimants to pay for their own medical reports
In answer to a written question, it appears that post-April 2013 cuts to welfare benefits legal aid, the government are saying that claimants must pay for any extra medical evidence when challenging decisons (thanks to jman from ilegal for spotting)
David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what financial assistance is available for people to pay for medical reports to allow them to challenge decisions on benefits eligibility if they do not qualify for legal aid.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 6 February 2013, c316W)
Jeremy Wright (Kenilworth and Southam, Conservative)
In these circumstances the individual would need to make their own private funding arrangements. However, I should emphasise that independent reports are not a requirement for the tribunal as a medical report from an NHS doctor will be sufficient. The tribunals are user-friendly and therefore the claimant is only required to give the facts of the case (including about his medical condition) in plain language.