Regulation 2 Amendment of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979

The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979^f1 are amended as follows.

In regulation 2(1)^f2 (interpretation), after the definition of “claim for benefit” insert—

• ““health care professional” means—

  1. (a)

     a registered medical practitioner,

  2. (b)

     a registered nurse,

  3. (c)

     an occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with a regulatory body established by an Order in Council under section 60 of the Health Care Act 1999^f3, or

  4. (d)

     a member of such other profession, regulated by a body mentioned in section 25(3) of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002^f4, prescribed by the Secretary of State in accordance with powers under section 39(1) of the Social Security Act 1998^f5.”

In regulation 26(1)(a)^f6(obligations of claimants for, and beneficiaries in respect of disablement benefit), for “medical practitioner” substitute “health care professional approved by the Secretary of State”.