Subject to the Act, every question to which the section applies is to be decided by a deciding officer. The section applies to questions arising under Part 2 (social insurance) including claims for benefit, disqualification and its period, insurable employment and insurable self‑employment, employer and contributor status, and rates of contributions (including Chapters 5A and 5B); Part 3 (social assistance) except certain supplementary welfare allowance cases unless specified; Parts 4, 5, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9 and Part 11B where specified recoverable benefits are concerned. Where a deciding officer is a bureau officer the section also covers Chapter 9 of Part 3.

The Minister may provide for electronic applications and awards in respect of matters in subsection (2), and any question arising from an electronic application or payment is to be decided by a deciding officer. Subsection (3A) designates specified categories of supplementary welfare allowance claims (including claims under section 197 where related Part 2 or Part 3 applications are outstanding or appealed, and prescribed cases under section 198 for rent or mortgage supplements) to be decided by a deciding officer. Awards of child benefit, bereavement grants, payments under section 248, and awards under sections 113A and 113B may be made on prescribed information and verification, with any subsequent questions on payability or entitlement referred to a deciding officer.