The provision authorises seeking the opinion of a medical assessor when determining entitlement to a benefit, assistance or a carer’s support grant. It specifies matters on which an opinion may be sought, including incapacity for work for the purposes of sections 40, 74 and 118; the level of restriction on capacity for work (section 46A); whether a woman is or was confined (section 51); whether an accident arose out of and in the course of employment and whether an injury is consistent with that accident (section 72); extent of disablement and related assessments including sections 75, 77, 78 and 80; disease or injury prescribed under section 87; whether an accident was an occupational accident for section 90; care claim relevance; blindness affecting work (section 161A); qualified child status (Chapter 8A of Part 3); and whether a specified disability substantially restricts suitable employment (section 210).

Where an opinion is sought the medical assessor must assess all relevant information and provide an opinion on the question posed. A deciding officer must have regard to that opinion when deciding the question. The term 'relevant loss of faculty' is given the meaning assigned by section 69.