New development: The commodification of social security medical assessments—academic analysis and practitioner experience

Abstract

IMPACT: This article examines an important area of public sector commodification: the medical assessments that determine eligibility for social security benefits. The commodification of this adjudication process has a significant impact on vulnerable welfare benefit claimants. The article has a particular focus on issues commonly experienced by claimants with mental health problems. Drawing on experience of working in the social welfare sector, the authors present professional reflections on the impact of commodification. Best practice guidelines for supporting claimants with social security medical assessments are presented; these make a new contribution by highlighting the approach needed by professionals to effectively navigate the privatized benefit assessment process.