Tribunal Remuneration: Rates Increase (2024)

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A decision made on 22 March 2024:

Decision Reference: MD-SOSEC-2024-218		Public
Subject: Tribunal remuneration rates increase (2024)
Report Title: Revised remuneration for Tribunal members		Public
Decision(s): The Minister decided to increase remuneration levels for Tribunal members, to take account of the lack of any increase since 2009, and complying with principles set in 2009 to consider the Earnings Index and rates payable to other Tribunals and Courts.
Reason for Decision(s): The increase in remuneration rates will apply to the Income Support Medical Appeal Tribunal, the Social Security Medical Appeal Tribunal and the Social Security Tribunal. The rates that were previously set by MD-S-2009-0026 have not been increased since 2009, causing difficulties in recruiting new panel members, in particular, medical practitioner members. Moving forward, the rates will be reviewed annually with any increase to be considered with reference to the Average Earnings Index, the rate paid to medical practitioners appointed by the Minister to conduct medical boards and the rates for other Tribunals and Courts. The written report outlines the increased rates in more detail.
Resource Implications: The rates will be set as follows: Income Support Medical Appeal Tribunal: Legal Chair - £664 daily rate; 1 Medical practitioner - £664 daily rate; 1 lay member - £155 daily rate. Social Security Medical Appeal Tribunal: Legal Chair - £664 daily rate; 2 Medical practitioners - £664 each daily rate. Social Security Tribunal: Legal Chair - £664 daily rate; 2 lay members - £155 each daily rate. There have been 6 Tribunal hearings in the 12 months from March 2023, which based on the proposed increased rates would have cost an additional £4,981.
Action Required: Department to take necessary action.
Signature:	Signed By: Minister for Social Security
Date Signed:	Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):