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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Royal Mail, following the introduction of the new daily delivery time target, on ensuring that pensioners who are reliant on carers to cash their cheques on particular days receive their pension cheques in time for the carer to visit the post office to claim the money; and if he will make a statement. [198139] Mr. Pond: Cheques will be issued to the customer's home address allowing sufficient time for the cheque to reach the customer by the day that payment is due. It is still an option with Direct Payment for someone to collect a customer's benefit or pension for them. The precise arrangements for people who need help collecting their money will depend on the type of account they have and with which account provider. With the post office card account, customers are able to obtain a second card, with a separate PIN, for a person of their choice to access their account. However, accounts that offer chequebooks or building society passbooks provide more flexibility and may be more suitable than a card-based account for customers who rely on someone to collect their benefit or pension.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c1661W;426 c1664W; 198139

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Carers Cheques Pensioners Pensions Payments Post offices Postal services Social security benefits Standards

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk