Questione giuridica chiave
Whether Art. 20(1) ATSG allows direct payment of an IV pension to a maintenance-claiming spouse.
Decisione estratta
No. Art. 20(1) ATSG permits payment to a suitable third party or authority only if that person is legally or morally obliged to support the pension recipient or is permanently caring for them; a maintenance creditor spouse does not fall within that wording.
Motivazione estratta
The wording is clear and is supported by the legislative history and system of the ATSG. The exceptions in AHVG and IVG for spouse and child payments show that only specially provided deviations allow such direct payment to a non-support-obliged spouse.