- 1
- For the purposes of this article, ‘information’ means information regarding inter alia identity, address, actual household situation, income, cases of death, termination of payments and detention.
- 2
- Concerning requests for or the legitimacy of payment of benefits, the competent institution of a Contracting Party shall, at the request of the competent institution of the other Contracting Party, verify the information regarding the beneficiary or their spouse. If necessary, the accuracy of the information shall be checked with the relevant organisations. The competent institution of the former Contracting Party shall forward a statement of the verification along with certified and authenticated copies of the relevant documents to the competent institution of the latter Contracting Party.
- 3
- Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the competent institution of a Contracting Party shall, without prior request and to the extent possible, inform the competent institution of the other Contracting Party of any changes in the information regarding the beneficiary or a member of his family or household.
- 4
- Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the competent institutions of the Contracting Parties may directly contact each other or each other’s relevant organisations, as well as the beneficiaries, their spouses or representatives.
- 5
- Without prejudice to paragraph 2, the diplomatic or consular representatives and the competent institutions of a Contracting Party may directly contact the other Contracting Party’s competent authorities or their authorised representatives, the relevant organisations, the beneficiaries, their spouses or representatives in order to verify entitlement to benefits or the legitimacy of payments to the beneficiaries.
- 6
- For the purposes of applying this Agreement, the relevant organisations shall lend their good offices and act as though applying their own legislation. The administrative assistance furnished by the relevant organisations shall be free of charge. However, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties may agree to certain expenses being reimbursed.
