(1) If, apart from this subsection, the Commonwealth does not have power under section 4 to pay an amount (the relevant amount ) to a person (the recipient ) purportedly as a benefit, then the Commonwealth may pay the relevant amount to the recipient.
Recovery
(2) If a payment is made under subsection ( 1) to the recipient, the relevant amount:
(a) is a debt due to the Commonwealth by the recipient; and
(b) may be recovered by CSC , on behalf of the Commonwealth, in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(3) If:
(a) a payment is made under subsection ( 1) to the recipient; and
(b) the recipient is receiving, or is entitled to receive, a benefit;
then:
(c) the relevant amount; or
(d) such part of the relevant amount as the Board of CSC determines;
may, if the Board of CSC so directs, be recovered by deduction from that benefit.
Appropriation
(4) For the purposes of subsection 4(7), a payment under subsection ( 1) of this section is taken to be a replacement payment made under section 4.
Benefit
(5) For the purposes of this section, benefit means a replacement payment under section 4.