Section Sch6-1 — Social Security Act 2018: Duty to answer questions asked by MSD

1 Duty to answer questions asked by MSD (1) A person (even if not an applicant for a benefit) must answer all questions the person is asked (in any way) by MSD about all or any of the following: (a) an applicant for a benefit: (b) a person who is or has been receiving a benefit: (c) a statement contained in an application for a benefit: (d) the means, earning capacity, or economic circumstances of a person, when all or any of that information is reasonably required by MSD for the purposes of section 46 (reports as to children) or 91 (reports as to maintenance) of the Family Proceedings Act 1980: (e) the means, earning capacity, or economic circumstances, of a person who is or may be liable to maintain either or both of the following: (i) an applicant for a benefit, or a beneficiary: (ii) a dependant of an applicant for a benefit, or of a beneficiary. (2) This clause does not require the person to provide any information that would be privileged in a court of law. (3) If a person refuses to disclose information on the ground that it is privileged under subclause (2),— (a) MSD, that person, or any other person to whom the information relates, may apply to a District Court Judge for an order determining whether the claim of privilege is valid; and (b) the Judge may, for the purposes of determining an application of that kind, require the information to be produced to the court. (4) Section 290 (offences: false statements, misleading, or attempting to mislead, to receive or continue to receive benefits) applies to answers to, and to omissions to answer, the questions. Compare: 1964 No 136 s 12(2)