http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/8/section/104Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 19921992-02-13texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-29Expert Participation2026-07-09 Part VI EnforcementInspection Appointment and powers of inspectors.1041For the purposes of the legislation to which this section applies the Department may appoint such inspectors, and pay to them such salaries or remuneration, as it may determine with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel.2An inspector appointed under this section shall, for the purposes of the execution of that legislation, have the following powers—ato enter at all reasonable times any premises liable to inspection under this section;bto make such examination and inquiry as may be necessary—ifor ascertaining whether the provisions of the legislation are being, or have been, complied with in any such premises; oriifor investigating the circumstances in which any accident, injury or disease which has given or may give rise to a claim for industrial injuries benefit, or for any benefit which is a listedbenefit, occurred or may have occurred, or was or may have been received or contracted;cto examine, either alone or in the presence of any other person, as he thinks fit, in relation to any matters under the legislation on which he may reasonably require information, every person whom he finds in any such premises or whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be or to have been a person liable to pay—i. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iiia compensation payment or a payment to the Department under Article 8 of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997,and to require every such person to be so examined;dto exercise such other powers as may be necessary for carrying the legislation into effect.3The premises liable to inspection under this section are any where an inspector has reasonable grounds for supposing that—aany persons are employed;bthere is being carried on any agency or other business for the introduction or supply to persons requiring them of persons available to do work or to perform services;ca personal or occupational pension scheme is being administered; ordany person—iwho makes a compensation payment in consequence of any such accident, injury or disease as is referred to in subsection (2)(b)(ii) above; oriion whose behalf such a compensation payment has been, may have been, or may be, made,carries on business or is to be found,but do not include any private dwelling-house not used by, or by permission of, the occupier for the purposes of a trade or business.4Every inspector shall be furnished with a certificate of his appointment, and on applying for admission to any premises for the purpose of the legislation shall, if so required, produce the certificate.5Where any premises—aare liable to be inspected—iby an officer of the Inland Revenue under section 104ZA below, oriiby an inspector or officer appointed or employed by some other government department, orbare under the control of the Inland Revenue or some other government department,the Department may make arrangements with the Inland Revenue or that other department for any of the powers or duties of inspectors under this section to be carried out by an inspector or officer employed by the Inland Revenue or that other department.6In accordance with this section, persons shall furnish to an inspector all such information, and produce for his inspection all such documents, as he may reasonably require for the purpose of ascertaining—awhether—i. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iiiany compensation payment or payment to the Department under Article 8 of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997,is or has been payable, or has been duly paid, by or in respect of any person; orbwhether benefit is or was payable to or in respect of any person.7The following persons are under the duty imposed by subsection (6) above—athe occupier of any premises liable to inspection under this section;bany person who is or has been an employer or an employee within the meaning of any provision of the Contributions and Benefits Act;cany person carrying on an agency or other business for the introduction or supply to persons requiring them of persons available to do work or to perform services;dany person who is or has at any time been a trustee or manager of a personal or occupational pension scheme;eany person who is or has been liable—i. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iito make any compensation payment or payment to the Department under Article 8 of the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997;fthe servants or agents of any such person as is specified in any of the preceding paragraphs,but no one shall be required under this section to answer any questions or to give evidence tending to incriminate himself or, in the case of a person who is married, his or her spouse.8This section applies to the following legislation—athe Social Security Act 1973;bthe Contributions and Benefits Act except so far as relating to contributions, statutory sick pay or statutory maternity pay;cthis Act;dthe Pensions Order; . . .ethe Pensions Act except Part III of that Actfthe Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.9In this section “compensation payment" and “listed benefit" have the same meaning as in the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.Pt. VI: power to amend conferred (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 49, s.173; S.R. 1994/17, art. 2For s. 104 there are substituted ss. 103A-103C (2.4.2001) by 2000 c. 4 (N.I.), s. 68(1), Sch. 6 para. 2 (with s. 66(6)); S.I. 2001/141, art. 2(1)(a), Sch. Pt. IS. 104 restricted (5.10.1999) by 1999 c. 10, ss. 2(3), 20(2), Sch. 2 Pt. IV para. 11Word in s. 104(2)(b)(ii) substituted (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 31(1), Sch. 3 para. 3(2); S.R. 1997/400, art. 2(2)S. 104(2)(c)(i)(ii) repealed (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, art. 5, Sch. 4 para. 2(4), Sch. 9 Pt. I; S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2 (subject to arts. 3-6 of that S.R.)Words in s. 104(2)(c)(iii) substituted (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 31(1), Sch. 3, para. 3(3); S.R. 1997/400, art. 2(2)Words in s. 104(3)(d)(i) substituted (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 3(1), Sch. 3, para. 3(4)(a); S.R. 1997/400, art. 2(2)Words in s. 104(3)(d)(ii) substituted (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 31(1), SCh. 3 para. 3(4)(b); S.R. 1997/400, art. 2(2)S. 104(5) substituted (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, art. 5, Sch. 4 para. 2(2); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2 (subject to arts. 3-6 of that S.R.)S. 104(6)(a)(i)(ii) repealed (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, art. 5, Sch. 4 para. 2(4), Sch. 9 Pt. I; S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2 (subject to arts. 3-6 of that S.R.)Words in s. 104(6)(a)(iii) substituted (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 31(1), Sch. 3 para. 3(3); S.R. 1997/400, art. 2(2)S. 104(7)(e)(i) repealed (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, art. 5, Sch. 4 para. 2(4), Sch. 9 Pt. I; S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2 (subject to arts. 3-6 of that S.R.)Words in s. 104(7)(e)(ii) substituted (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 31(1), Sch. 3, para. 3(3); S.R. 1997/400, art. 2(2)Words at the end of s. 104(8)(b) inserted (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, art. 5 Sch. 4 para. 2(3)(a); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2 (subject to arts. 3-6 of that S.R.)Word immediately preceding para. (e) in s. 104(8) repealed (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 31(2), Sch. 4; S.R. 1997/400, art. 2(2)S. 104(8)(e) substituted (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 49, s. 184, Sch. 7 para. 39; S.R. 1994/17, art. 2Words at the end of s. 104(8)(e) inserted (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/671, art 5, Sch. 4 para. 3(b); S.R. 1999/149, art. 2(c), Sch. 2 (subject to arts. 3-6 of that S.R.)S. 104(8)(f) inserted (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 31(1), SCh. 3, para. 3(5); S.R. 1997/400, art. 2S. 104(9) substituted (6.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/1183 (N.I. 12), art. 31(1), Sch. 3, para. 3(6); S.R. 1997/400, art. 2S. 104(6)(7) modified (6.4.1996) by S.I. 1995/2705 (N.I. 15), art. 34; S.R. 1996/26, art. 2