The Principal Act is amended by substituting the following section for section 342:

"342. Repayment of amounts due to be deferred, suspended, reduced or cancelled.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary and subject to section 342A, where a person is required to repay an amount of any -

(a) benefit described in section 39(1),

(b) assistance described in section 139(1),

(c) child benefit,

(d) respite care grant,

(e) working family payment,

(f) continued payment for qualified children, or

(g) payment pursuant to section 239,

in accordance with this Act -

(i) an officer of the Minister authorised by him or her for this purpose, or

(ii) the Executive, in the case of supplementary welfare allowance,

may, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that shall be prescribed, defer, suspend, reduce or cancel repayment of any such amount.".