Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005

Return of documents on demand.

[1993 s229(1)]

278.—(1) Every person who, by virtue of an alienation or purported alienation declared by this Chapter to be void, has in his or her possession a document to which this Chapter applies shall, in the case of any such document issued in respect of any benefit, on demand by a social welfare inspector immediately deliver the document to the inspector or, where no such demand is made by a social welfare inspector, on demand by the owner of the document or his or her duly authorised agent, immediately deliver the document to the owner or agent.

[1993 s229(2)]

(2) Every person who, on a demand being made on him or her under this section, fails to deliver in accordance with this section a document which he or she is required by this section so to deliver is guilty of an offence.

[1993 s229(3)]

(3) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section the court by which he or she is so convicted may, where the circumstances so require, make such order as the court shall think proper for securing the delivery of the document in respect of which the offence was committed to the owner of the document or, where appropriate, to a social welfare inspector.