Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2024C00057:schedule:31:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2024C00057
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 31 (pt 9/11)
Character Range: 1044032–1046951

determination or payment of any benefit under this Agreement or under the legislation to which this Agreement applies as if the matter involved the application of their own legislation; and

(c) communicate to each other, as soon as possible, all information about the measures taken by them for the application of this Agreement or about changes in their respective legislation insofar as these changes affect the application of this Agreement.

2. The assistance referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be provided free of charge, subject to the Administrative Arrangement made pursuant to Article 20 of this Agreement.

3. Unless disclosure is required under the laws of a Contracting Party, any information about an individual which is transmitted in accordance with this Agreement to a Competent Authority or a Competent Institution of that Contracting Party by a Competent Authority or a Competent Institution of the other Contracting Party is confidential and shall be used only for purposes of implementing this Agreement and the legislation to which this Agreement applies.

4. In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article be construed so as to impose on the Competent Authority or Competent Institution of a Contracting Party the obligation:

(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws or the administrative practice of either Contracting Party; or

(b) to supply information which is not ordinarily obtainable under the laws or in the normal administrative practice of either Contracting Party.

5. In the application of this Agreement, the Competent Authority and the Competent Institution of a Contracting Party may communicate with the other in any of the official languages of the Contracting Parties.

6. Documents submitted to a Competent Authority or Competent Institution of a Contracting Party shall not be rejected solely on the ground that they are written in the official language of the other Contracting Party.

7. The Competent Institutions of the Contracting Parties will supply to each other, on a schedule as agreed, in an agreed format, relevant information, including but not limited to, death, change of address, change of relationship status and changes in the amount of benefits for mutual beneficiaries.

Article 20
Administrative Arrangement

The Competent Authorities of the Contracting Parties shall establish, by means of an Administrative Arrangement, the measures necessary for the implementation of this Agreement.

Article 21
Exchange of Statistics

The Competent Institutions of the Contracting Parties shall exchange annual statistics on the payments granted to beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement. These statistics shall include the number of beneficiaries and total amount of benefits paid and shall be furnished in a form to be agreed upon by the Competent Institutions.

Article 22
Resolution of Disputes