The Department wishes to inform all relevant parties of a recent incident involving unauthorized access to certain Departmental information systems. The Department detected this unauthorized access and immediately activated its internal security protocols. Access was contained promptly, affected systems were secured, and enhanced protective measures were put in place. Individuals who may potentially have been affected include beneficiaries, potential beneficiaries, service providers, and employees. Limited information relating to these groups may have been accessed. At present, the main possible risk is that affected individuals could receive unsolicited or unexpected communications from unknown sources. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that the information has been misused or further distributed. A formal investigation is currently underway with the support of relevant internal and external experts to fully assess the incident and further strengthen the Department’s security environment. The Department advises all individuals to remain cautious when responding to unfamiliar communications and to avoid sharing personal or confidential information with unknown parties. Any suspicious activity that may be related to this matter should be reported to the Department through official channels. The Department remains committed to safeguarding the personal information entrusted to it and continues to enhance its systems to ensure the ongoing protection of all stakeholders.