Section 122B | Supply of other government information for fraud prevention and verification ^F1

From legislation.gov.uk

26 October 2026

(1)This section applies to information which is held by, or by a person providing services to, a Minister of the Crown or a government department (including a Northern Ireland Department) and which relates to—

(a)passports, immigration and emigration, nationality or prisoners; or

(b)any other matter which is prescribed.

(2)Information to which this section applies may be supplied to, or to a person providing services to, the Secretary of State or the Northern Ireland Department—

(a)for use in the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of offences relating to social security or tax credits; or^F2

(b)for use in checking the accuracy of information relating to benefits, ... or national insurance numbers or to any other matter relating to social security and (where appropriate) amending or supplementing such information.^F3

(3)Information supplied under subsection (2) above shall not be supplied by the recipient to any other person or body unless—

(a)it could be supplied to that person or body under that subsection

(b)it is supplied for the purposes of any civil or criminal proceedings relating to the Contributions and Benefits Act 1995, the Jobseekers Act 1995 , the Tax Credits Act 2002 , Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 , Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 , Part 4 of that Act , Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014 , section 30 of that Act or this Act or to any provision of Northern Ireland legislation corresponding to any of them; ...^{F4F5F6F7F8F9F10}

(c)it is supplied under section 122C below or^F11

(d)it is supplied under section 127 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.^F11

(4)But where information supplied under subsection (2) above has been used (in accordance with paragraph (b) of that subsection) in amending or supplementing other information, it is lawful for it to be—

(a)supplied to any person or body to whom that other information could be supplied; or

(b)used for any purpose for which that other information could be used.

(5)This section does not limit the circumstances in which information may be supplied apart from this section.

Notes

F1
S. 122B and cross-heading inserted (1.7.1997) by Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997 (c. 47), ss. 2(1), 25(1); S.I. 1997/1577, art. 2, Sch.
F2
Words in s. 122B(2)(a) inserted (6.6.2012) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), ss. 123(2), 150(3); S.I. 2012/1246, art. 2(2) (as amended (31.5.2012) by S.I. 2012/1440, art. 2)
F3
Words in s. 122B(2)(b) repealed (1.4.1999) by Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) Act 1999 (c. 2), s. 28(3), Sch. 6 para. 5, Sch. 10 Pt. I; S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2
F4
Words in s. 122B(3)(b) inserted (6.6.2012) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), ss. 123(3)(a), 150(3); S.I. 2012/1246, art. 2(2) (as amended (31.5.2012) by S.I. 2012/1440, art. 2)
F5
Words in s. 122B(3)(b) inserted (27.10.2008) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), s. 70(2), Sch. 3 para. 10(14); S.I. 2008/787, art. 2(4)(f)
F6
Words in s. 122B(3)(b) inserted (29.4.2013) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), s. 150(3), Sch. 2 para. 15; S.I. 2013/983, art. 3(1)(b)(ii)
F7
Words in s. 122B(3)(b) inserted (8.4.2013 for specified purposes, 10.6.2013 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), s. 150(3), Sch. 9 para. 13; S.I. 2013/358, art. 7(1)(2)(k), Sch. 3; S.I. 2013/1250, art. 2
F8
Words in s. 122B(3)(b) inserted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act 2014 (c. 19), s. 56(4), Sch. 12 para. 14
F9
Words in s. 122B(3)(b) inserted (6.4.2017) by Pensions Act 2014 (c. 19), s. 56(1), Sch. 16 para. 27; S.I. 2017/297, art. 3(2) (with arts. 4, 5)
F10
Word in s. 122B(3) repealed (6.6.2012) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), ss. 123(3)(b), 150(3); S.I. 2012/1246, art. 2(2) (as amended (31.5.2012) by S.I. 2012/1440, art. 2)
F11
S. 122B(3)(d) and preceding word inserted (6.6.2012) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), ss. 123(3)(c), 150(3); S.I. 2012/1246, art. 2(2) (as amended (31.5.2012) by S.I. 2012/1440, art. 2)