5BUse of social security information

1

A relevant authority may use for a relevant purpose any social security information which it holds.

2

Regulations may make provision as to the procedure to be followed by a relevant authority for the purposes of any function it has relating to the administration of a specified benefit if the authority holds social security information which—

a

is relevant for the purposes of anything which may or must be done by the authority in connection with a claim for or an award of the benefit, and

b

was used by another relevant authority in connection with a claim for or an award of a different specified benefit or was verified by that other authority in accordance with regulations under section 5A(2)(e) above.

3

A relevant purpose is anything which is done in relation to a claim which is made or which could be made for a specified benefit if it is done for the purpose of—

a

identifying persons who may be entitled to such a benefit;

b

encouraging or assisting a person to make such a claim;

c

advising a person in relation to such a claim.

4

Social security information means—

a

information relating to social security, child support or war pensions;

b

evidence obtained in connection with a claim for or an award of a specified benefit.

5

A specified benefit is a benefit which is specified in regulations for the purposes of this section.

6

Expressions used in this section and in section 5A have the same meaning in this section as in that section.

7

This section does not affect any power which exists apart from this section to use for one purpose social security information obtained in connection with another purpose.