What do we do?
The Social Security Commissioners and Child Support Commissioners are the specialised members of the judiciary appointed to hear and determine appeals on points of law from Appeal Tribunals under the Social Security and Child Support legislation.
The Social Security cases include appeals on a claimant's entitlement to benefits, tax credits and housing benefit. The Child Support cases are concerned with questions relating to child support maintenance. The Commissioners also have jurisdiction to deal with questions arising under the Forfeiture (Northern Ireland) Order 1982.
Their work involves giving interpretations of the law which are binding on the administrative, adjudication and Tribunal Systems at the levels below them, and remedying procedural injustices in those systems.
The Commissioners operate at a level comparable to High Court Judges in that appeals from their decisions are to the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal and thence to the House of Lords. Cases involving European Union Law may be referred by the Commissioners direct to the European Court of Justice.
The Commissioners are assisted by a Legal Officer who is authorised by the Lord Chancellor to issue directions and interlocutory rulings in individual cases, although all final decisions are given by Commissioners.
Appeals may be brought before a Commissioner only on questions of law. For guidance about bringing applications or appeals click here. To download an application/appeal form click here.
Most appeals are determined on paper without a hearing, but the parties may ask for a hearing and sometimes Commissioners direct a hearing even if one has not been requested.
Hearings mainly take place, at the Commissioners' Office in Belfast but can also be heard in court buildings throughout Northern Ireland.
The Commissioners are independent of the United Kingdom Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Civil Service. In particular it is to be stressed that they are independent of the Department for Social Development, the Child Support Agency, the Social Security Agency and the Appeal Tribunals who hear the initial appeals by claimants.
Who are the Commissioners?
The Northern Ireland Commissioners
Chief Commissioner: His Honour Judge Martin QC
Appointed Chief Commissioner 1997.
Appointed a County Court Judge 1990.
Called to the Bar 1970 and took silk in 1989.
President of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals.
Previously, Chairman of Industrial Tribunals, and Vice President of Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal.
Commissioner: Dr Kenneth Mullan BA MA PhD
Appointed Commissioner 2008.
Admitted as Solicitor 1989.
Deputy President of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals.
Previously full-time Chairman Appeal Tribunals for Northern Ireland.
Previously senior lecturer in Law, University of Ulster.
Deputy Commissioner: Mr Commissioner Powell
Appointed as a Commissioner for Great Britain 1996.
And, in addition, appointed as a Deputy Commissioner for Northern Ireland 2001.
Called to the English Bar 1973. Practised at the English Chancery Bar until 1996.
Previously Deputy High Court Master in England.
Deputy Commissioner: Mrs LT Parker
Formerly Commissioner for Great Britain.
Appointed as Deputy Commissioner for Northern Ireland 2006.
The Commissioners have the power to delegate certain functions to:
Mr Niall McSperrin LLB
Solicitor
Legal Officer to the Commissioners
Past Commissioners
Mrs Commissioner Brown LLB
Mr Commissioner McNally LLM (QUB) LLM (UU)
Chief Commissioner His Honour Judge Chambers QC
Chief Commissioner Blair QC
Chief Commissioner Reid QC
The Right Honourable Mr Commissioner McConnell (Lord McConnell)
Mr Commissioner Moody QC
Mr Commissioner Belford QC