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The decision-maker will consider the report along with all the other information provided for your claim and decide whether you are entitled to Incapacity Benefit and at what rate it should be paid. You will receive a letter stating their decision. 

Confidentiality

All the medical information related to your claim, including the doctor's report from the medical examination, is confidential and will not be released to anyone outside the DWP.

You can ask to be sent a copy of the doctor's report at any time.

Sometimes the doctor may want to send some information about your medical examination to your GP. In that case, Medical Services, who organise medical examinations on behalf of DWP, will write to you and ask whether you agree to them giving your GP the information.

If you're not happy with the medical examination

If you're not happy with the way the medical examination was carried out, you can complain to Medical Services. The complaints procedure is outlined in the letter you received about your medical examination.

You can also complain to the doctor at the time of the examination. If they can't resolve the problem, they will give you a brochure explaining the formal complaints procedure.

If you're not happy with the benefit decision

If you think the decision about your benefit claim is wrong, or you don't understand it, you can:

• How to appeal against a benefits decision (general money, tax and benefits section)

Repeat medical examinations

When completing the medical report after your medical examination, the doctor advises when your condition could be expected to change. This is done by selecting one of the following options:

The decision-maker decides when your claim will be reassessed, based on the doctor's advice. The reassessment may involve another medical examination.