- 1
- For the purpose of this Article, ``information" shall at least include information regarding identity, address, household, work, education, income, medical condition, death and detention.
- 2
- Concerning the application 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 the members of his family. If necessary, this verification is to be carried out with the agencies. The competent institution shall forward a statement of the verification along with authenticated copies of the relevant documents to the competent institution of the other Contracting Party.
- 3
- Notwithstanding 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 the member of his family.
- 4
- The competent institutions of the Contracting Parties may contact each other, as well as the beneficiaries, the members of their family, or their representatives, directly.
- 5
- Notwithstanding paragraph 2, the diplomatic or consular representatives and the competent institutions of a Contracting Party shall be allowed to contact the agencies of the other Contracting Party directly in order to verify entitlement to benefits and legitimacy of payments to the beneficiaries.
- 6
- For the purposes of implementing this Agreement, the agencies shall lend their good offices and act as though implementing their own legislation. The administrative assistance furnished by the agencies shall be free of charge. However, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties may agree to certain expenses being reimbursed.
