Caseworkers granted decision-making power

Tribunal caseworkers as well as judges can now make judicial decisions in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber). In a practice statement issued last week, Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals, said he was satisfied that appropriately trained caseworkers could make ‘all decisions that a judge assigned to the Social Security and Child Support/Criminal Injuries Compensation jurisdiction may make’ apart from substantive final decisions. Parties to a case can apply in writing within 14 days for the decision to be considered afresh by a judge.