Data sharing within RSLs - opinion needed

Ever since the Welfare Reform Act provisions allowed Data Sharing, the rent collectors within the Housing Association have been pressing me to disclose information. As far as i was aware the provisions only allow for housing support and welfare services, so have been reluctant to divulge in case of breaching the law.

The wording of Section 130-31 seems a bit vague in its defining of support service. Does anyone have an opinion or experiance as to whether welfare related departments can share data to other departments within RSLs?

I work for a Housing Association as well and it ncan be difficult to balance your role as an employee and as an adviser providing impartial advice. My employer accepts that I provide confidential advice and just don’t ask. I would say that you shouldn’t act as if you were in an independant advice agency as much as possible

Going back to the Welfare Reform Act. I can’t see how you would be a ‘qualifying person’ affected by this - see section 131 (11) for the definition. Isn’t this aimed at local authorities/devolved bodies providing information?