John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent allowance must be collected from a post office in County Kilkenny rather than paid through the post office account or bank account in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if this decision will be reversed as it is causing undue hardship; if this is not discrimination as the Department insists on paying others through banks and post office accounts or at least gives an option and if she will explain the reasoning behind the decision in the letter from the community welfare officer which advises that one must collect one's rent allowance each week otherwise one loses the benefit. [5216/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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When the decision to award a rent supplement has been made it is a matter for the Community Welfare Officer to decide the method of payment having regard to the client's preferences and personal circumstances. Where payment is made by Electronic Information Transfer at a post office, the payment must be collected within six days; failure to collect the payment within the specified period will result in it being returned to the Department.

If the person concerned wishes to have his payment method changed then he should contact his local community welfare officer.