Page 128 - Reforming Benefits Decision-Making -(updated - August 2021)

each jurisdiction. The Working Party endorses this recommendation.
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It would be helpful to bring together all the available information in one
place, with jurisdiction specific subpages/sections. A link to the advice
portal recommended above should also be included in the Social Security
and Child Support section/page.

4.64 In addition, an easy read version of the SSCS1A guide should be produced
and included on the Social Security and Child Support section of
HMCTS Online. It will likely be difficult to present all the information
contained in the SSCS1A in easy read format, but it should cover the key
points. Further, HMCTS should produce an engaging, clear and high-
quality production video specific to the FTT (SSCS) with tribunal
professionals explaining their roles and giving a realistic overview of
what a video, telephone and face-to-face hearing is like. The First-tier
Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) videos provide a good
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example. This is preferable to the video of the poster described at paragraph
4.61(d) above, which does not give a realistic impression of what appellants
can expect and does not include any audio. The video should also be subtitled
in a variety of core languages.

Decision and direction notices

4.65 HMCTS recently conducted a small piece of research on FTT (SSCS)
decision notices and direction notices (instructions from the Tribunal to the
parties in relation to the case), asking for feedback from advice providers. The
feedback, which was also reflected in feedback from subgroup and Working
Party members, included:

a) Appellants can think a direction notice means the hearing has taken place
without them.
b) Appellants can be unsure what direction notices mean and whether it is
they who have to do something or the DWP.

376 JUSTICE, Understanding Courts (see n. 296 above)
377 HMCTS, ‘Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (Welcome Chapter 1)’ (2017)
(Although they now need updating to reflect the fact that hearings may be held remotely)

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