Section 139B — Social Security Administration Act 1992: Powers of investigation

Powers of investigation 139B 1 A person authorised under section 139A(1) above—

a has a right of access at all reasonable times to any document relating to the administration of benefit;

b is entitled to require from any person holding or accountable for any such document such information and explanation as he thinks necessary;

and c is entitled, if he thinks it necessary, to require any such person to produce any such document or to attend before him in person to give such information or explanation.

2 A person authorised under section 139A(1) above is entitled to require any officer or member of an authority or any person involved in the administration of benefit for an authority—

a to give him such information and explanation relating to the administration of benefit as he thinks necessary;

and b if he thinks it necessary, to require any such person to attend before him in person to give the information or explanation.

3 A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (1) or (2) above is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

4 A person authorised under section 139A(1) above may—

a require any document or information which is to be given to him under subsection (1) or (2) above to be given in any form reasonably specified by him;

and b take copies of any document produced to him.

5 In this section “document” means anything in which information of any description is recorded.