The Department of Communities yesterday published the final report of Walter Rader’s independent review of the assessment process.

The Law Centre welcomed the launch of the report, but said it was concerned that “important opportunities for reform have been missed”, particularly around the mandatory reconsideration process, which it said causes an obstruction to accessing a tribunal appeal.

It has called for an urgent review of the mandatory reconsideration process and consideration of “alternative remedies”.

The law centre also expressed its disappointment that Mr Rader’s report did not address the effectiveness of the complaints process, nothing that it had an 89 per cent success race at appeal but a zero per cent success rate at complaint.

However, the law centre welcomed that some of the recommendations from its submission to the Rader review (on accountability and transparency, the need for audio recording, and the need to support claimants to better understand the process) were adopted.

Ursula O’Hare, director of Law Centre (NI), said: “Mr Rader’s report represents an important step in ensuring better access to justice for some of the most vulnerable claimants of social security entitlement.”

Ms O’Hare added: “We support Mr Rader’s call for the Department for Communities to publish an implementation plan for the recommendations as soon as possible.

“While full implementation of the recommendations is likely to ensure a better experience for claimants, we would encourage the Department for Communities to consider further improvements – such as those Law Centre (NI) has outlined.”