Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 558: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is the practice of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and post offices to retain receipts from pensioners and other social welfare recipients; if so, the length of time they are held for; and if a person is entitled to get a copy of an old receipt. [12401/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An Post issue Electronic Information Transfer (EIT) payments an behalf of my Department in respect of various Social Welfare schemes. Customers who collect their EIT payments at automated Post Offices are given a tally roll printout at the Post Office counter as a receipt showing details of the payment being claimed and they are requested to sign the tally roll printout acknowledging receipt of the amount indicated. The under copy of the tally roll printout is handed to the claimant with the cash. An Post retain the top copy bearing the claimants signature at a central location for fifteen months after which they are destroyed.

Customers who collect their EIT payments at non automated An Post outlets are given a Postdraft at the counter showing details of the benefit being claimed and they are requested to sign the Postdraft acknowledging receipt of the amount indicated. A tear off portion of the Postdraft with details of the payment printed thereon is also supplied to the customer. As with the tally roll printouts, paid Postdrafts bearing the customers signature are retained at a central location for a fifteen month period after which they are destroyed. The receipts outlined above are not retained by the Department. However, officials from my Department obtain copies of receipts from An Post from time to time in the course of their duties.

If the Deputy is aware of a person who wishes to obtain a copy of their receipt, s/he should contact the relevant business area of the Department dealing with their social welfare claim. The necessary arrangements can be made to obtain a copy of their receipt, provided it is within the fifteen month period following the payment.