Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 180: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the categories of social welfare recipients that will be required to produce photographic identification in order to pick up their payments from post offices from the week starting 18 July 2011; if her Department is issuing free photographic identification; if so, the timeframe for same; and how persons who do not have photographic identification will collect their cheques. [21648/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An Post, with a network of 1,160 Post Offices and a further 181 postal agencies, is the principal agency through which payments are delivered to social welfare customers. The prevention of fraud and abuse is a vital priority for this Department and An Post, acting as our agent to make payments, is required to ensure that payment is only made to the person who is entitled to receive it.

It has always been a requirement of this Department that An Post staff satisfy themselves as to identity of the person presenting at the post office for payment. From time to time An Post has issued instructions reminding their staff of this requirement. The latest instruction from An Post to its staff reinforces previous instructions and sets out that there is an absolute requirement to seek ID from an individual if the counter staff member performing the transaction does not know for certain that the person seeking the payment is the individual named on the card for which the payment is sought or if the person is validly authorised as an agent to collect the payment. Acceptable forms of identification are a valid Passport, a valid Driving Licence, a Garda National Age Card or a Travel Pass accompanied by Photo ID. The identification requirements apply equally to those cashing a social welfare cheque as those using the social welfare services card to access their electronic payment. All claimants, of whatever scheme they are on, may be asked for proof of identification on collection of a payment from a post office, where they are not known to the counter staff.

he Department has developed, in conjunction with a number of other Government Departments, the specifications for a Public Services Card (PSC) under the Standard Authentication Framework Environment, or SAFE, programme. The specification provides for identification features, including a photograph. The aim is to develop a card that acts as a key for access to public services in general, identifying and authenticating individuals as appropriate and where required. Registration has commenced and it is expected that cards will begin to issue later this year. There is no charge to the customer for this card.