{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-act-1998/section-19",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-act-1998/section-19.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1998/14",
  "legislation_title": "Social Security Act 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/social-security-act-1998",
  "path": "section/19",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "19",
  "heading": "Medical examination required by Secretary of State",
  "text": "(1) Before making a decision on a claim for a relevant benefit, or as to a person’s entitlement to such a benefit ... , the Secretary of State may refer the person—\n(a) in respect of whom the claim is made; or\n(b) whose entitlement is at issue,\nto a health care professional approved by the Secretary of State for such examination and report as appears to the Secretary of State to be necessary for the purpose of providing him with information for use in making the decision.\n(2) Subsection (3) below applies where—\n(a) the Secretary of State has exercised the power conferred on him by subsection (1) above; and\n(b) the health care professional approved by the Secretary of State requests the person referred to him to attend for or submit himself to medical examination.\n(3) If the person fails without good cause to comply with the request, the Secretary of State shall make the decision against him.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(1) repealed (1.4.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), s. 28(3), Sch. 7 para. 30, Sch. 10 Pt. I (with Sch. 8); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 (with arts. 3-6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(1) substituted (3.7.2007) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), ss. 62(2), 70(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 19(2)(b) substituted (3.7.2007) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), ss. 62(2), 70(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 19 in force at 5.7.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/1958, art. 2(1)(b), Sch. 1 (with art. 5, Sch. 12)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 19 in force at 6.9.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2422, art. 2(c), Sch. 1 (with art. 4, Sch. 14)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I3",
      "text": "S. 19 in force at 5.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2739, art. 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 3, Sch. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I4",
      "text": "S. 19 in force at 18.10.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/2860, art. 2(c), Sch. 1 (with art. 4, Schs. 16-18)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I5",
      "text": "S. 19 in force at 29.11.1999 for specified purposes by S.I. 1999/3178, art. 2(1)(a)(2), Sch. 1 (with art. 4, Schs. 21-23)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/14/section/19",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:23:08.158022+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}