Amendment of regulation 249
77. For regulation 249 (Claims for benefits), substitute—
“(1) A person claiming to be entitled to benefits under this Part (“the claimant”) shall make a claim in writing to the Department.
(2) Pursuant to such a claim, the claimant, and where appropriate, the member’s employing authority (including any previous employing authority of the member) shall provide such—
(a)evidence of entitlement;
(b)information required in order to deal with the claim; and
(c)authority or permission as may be necessary for the release by third parties of information in their possession relating to the claimant or member,
as the Department may from time to time require for the purposes of this Part.
(3) A claim referred to in paragraph (1) may be made by a person or persons other than the claimant where the Department so provides.
(4) Any claim for benefit required in writing under this Part, and any evidence, information, authority or permission given in connection with that claim, may be made or given by means of an electronic communication where such method of communication is approved by the Department from time to time.
(5) In this regulation, “electronic communication” has the same meaning as in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(1).”.