MN v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Facts

MN claimed industrial injuries disablement benefit on 8 December 2021 and was examined by a medical adviser later that month. On 2 January 2022 a decision maker for the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions assessed his disablement from an accident on 14 March 2011 at 10 per cent, as a final assessment for the period 26 June 2011 to 14 March 2014; because the assessment fell below 14 per cent, no benefit was payable. Following mandatory reconsideration, MN appealed to the First-tier Tribunal on 14 December 2022, and on 20 May 2024 the tribunal refused his appeal and confirmed the assessment. MN said he had requested a Statement of Reasons on the cover sheet returned after that decision, but HMCTS had no record of it; he telephoned to chase the reasons and then emailed a further request on 31 July 2024. On 9 August 2024 a salaried Tribunal Judge refused to extend time for a Statement of Reasons, recording that there was no record of an earlier request and that MN had supplied no details of it. The same judge later found no error of law in that refusal. MN applied to the Upper Tribunal, which granted him permission to appeal on 16 June 2025. The audio recording of the hearing was found to be blank.