Section 122E | Supply of information between authorities administering benefit ^F1F2

(1)This section applies to relevant benefit information which is held by—^F3

(a)an authority administering housing benefit or council tax benefit; or

(b)a person authorised to exercise any function of such an authority relating to such a benefit.

(2)Information to which this section applies may be supplied to another such authority or person—

(a)for use in the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of benefit offences (within the meaning of Part 6 above); or^F4

(b)for use in checking the accuracy of information relating to housing benefit or to council tax benefit and (where appropriate) amending or supplementing such information.

(3)The Secretary of State or the Northern Ireland Department may require information to which this section applies and which is of a prescribed description to be supplied in prescribed circumstances to another such authority or person for use in the administration of housing benefit or council tax benefit.

(4)Information shall be supplied under subsection (3) above in such manner and form, and in accordance with such requirements, as may be specified in directions given by the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the Northern Ireland Department.^F5

(5)Where information supplied under subsection (2) or (3) above has been used 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.

(6)In this section “relevant benefit information”, in relation to an authority or other person, means any information which is relevant to the exercise of any function relating to a relevant social security benefit (within the meaning of section 121DA above) by the authority or other person.^F6

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