Written answers
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Department of Social Protection
Social Welfare Payments Administration
Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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220. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will cease contacting and encouraging social welfare recipients to utilise banks rather that post offices for direct electronic transfer of their payments, as this exercise is detrimental to the viability of the post office network and in direct conflict with the aspiration regarding post offices in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13026/15]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The letters recently issued by my Department to recipients of State Pension Contributory and Non Contributory were part of a very small trial to determine the best means of communicating with people about their payment options. Customers were asked to consider whether they would like to consider receiving their payment directly into an account in a bank, building society, certain credit union accounts or An Post. Customer engagement was entirely voluntary with no negative consequences for customers who chose not to respond or engage. All existing payment options remain in place as heretofore.
The Department has no plans to issue further letters at this stage. The Department will continue to offer its clients in receipt of state pension the choice of receiving their payment at the Post Office or electronically. At present 6 out of every 10 pensioners are paid directly into an account. It is not proposed to limit the freedom of these clients to amend their payment arrangements if they so wish. Existing payment options will continue to remain in place in order to reflect different client circumstances and needs.
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