(1) Where a person makes a claim for any benefit in accordance with section 241 and the payment of that claim is delayed for a period exceeding 12 months due solely or mainly to circumstances within the control of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the person has not contributed to the delay, regulations may provide for a payment to be made in respect of the loss of purchasing power, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed.

(2) In the case of a person to whom subsection (1) applies, the Minister may make regulations to provide for payment of an amount of costs, subject to the minimum and maximum limits that may be prescribed, actually and necessarily incurred by that person.