Section 182A — Social Security Administration Act 1992: Return of social security post

Return of social security post 182A 1 A social security authority may require a postal operator (within the meaning of Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011 ) . to return to the sender social security post sent by or on behalf of the authority which would otherwise be redirected.

2 A social security authority shall make payments of such amount as the Secretary of State considers reasonable in respect of the return of social security post in compliance with a requirement imposed by the authority under subsection (1) above.

3 In subsections (1) and (2) above “ social security authority ” means—

a the Secretary of State;

b the Northern Ireland Department; or c any local or other authority administering housing benefit or council tax benefit (including the Northern Ireland Housing Executive).

4 In subsections (1) and (2) above “ social security post ” means postal packets—

a the contents of which relate to any benefit, contributions or national insurance number or to any other matter relating to social security;

and b which are marked, in a manner approved by the postal operator concerned , with the name and address of the sender and with an indication that they are to be returned rather than redirected.

5 In this section—

a “ redirected ”, in relation to any postal packet, means delivered to an address other than that indicated by the sender on the packet;

and b “ postal packet ” has the same meaning as in Part 3 of the Postal Services Act 2011 .

6 Any requirement imposed under subsection (1) above has effect subject to any order under—

a section 371 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or Article 342 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (redirection of bankrupt's letters to trustee in bankruptcy);

b paragraph 10 of Schedule 1 of the Solicitors Act 1974 or paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to the Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (redirection of letters following intervention by Law Society); or c paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (redirection of letters following intervention by Council for Licensed Conveyancers).