Rent officers and housing benefit

122FSupply by rent officers of information relating to housing benefit

1

The Secretary of State may require a rent officer to supply housing benefit information held by the rent officer to, or to a person providing services to, the Secretary of State for use for purposes relating to any of the following—

a

social security;

b

child support;

c

war pensions;

d

employment or training;

e

private pensions policy or retirement planning.

2

Information must be supplied under subsection (1) in such manner and form, and in accordance with such requirements, as may be specified in directions given by the Secretary of State.

3

A person who receives information by virtue of subsection (1) must not disclose the information to any person unless the disclosure is made—

a

for a purpose mentioned in that subsection (including disclosure to another rent officer in connection with any function he has under section 122 of the Housing Act 1996 relating to housing benefit),

b

in accordance with any other enactment, or

c

in accordance with the order of a court.

4

Housing benefit information is any information which relates to the exercise by the rent officer of any function he has under section 122 of the Housing Act 1996 relating to housing benefit.