Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 277

Avoidance of alienation of documents

Section 277 declares that any attempt to transfer ownership of social welfare documents is void and has always been void.

• Any transfer or purported transfer of a social welfare document covered by this chapter is automatically void
• This applies regardless of the method used — whether by sale, exchange, or pledging as security (hypothecation)
• The prohibition is retrospective: such transfers are deemed always to have been void and of no effect
• The provision protects claimants by ensuring their entitlement documents cannot be signed away or used as collateral