Commentary on Sections Mesothelioma lump sum payments Section 4: Reconsideration
Section 4 enables the Department to reconsider a decision not to make a lump sum payment where there is a change in circumstances that may affect the claim since the decision was taken, or a decision to make or not to make a lump sum payment if the original decision was made in ignorance of, or based on error about a material fact of, the case.
Subsection (2) provides that regulations must prescribe how and within what timescale, a person may apply to the Department for a decision to be reconsidered, or for the Department to reconsider a decision without an application to do so being made.
Subsection (3) provides that clause 3(4) will apply to any reconsideration of a decision under this section, in the same way as it applies to the decision on a claim.
Subsections (4) and (5) provide that where a person, either fraudulently or otherwise, provides misleading or false information, or does not disclose relevant information, and a lump sum payment for diffuse mesothelioma is paid to them as a result of this, they will be liable to repay any lump sum payment they receive. This liability to repay would not apply if the person can show that they had not given permission or had not been involved in the failure to disclose, or the provision of misleading or incorrect, information.
Subsection (6) provides that a lump sum payment can not be recovered where a decision has been reconsidered, unless the payment was obtained by providing misleading or false information, or because relevant information was not properly disclosed.