Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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490. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding bank payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13875/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection provides two main options for payment methods for its customers: payments in cash at post offices or payments direct to customer accounts in financial institutions. The Department intends, where possible, to continue to offer its many clients the choice of being paid in cash at the post office or directly into an account in a financial institution.

Certain jobseeker payment criteria are relaxed for persons aged 62 years and over. For example, they are not required to engage with the compulsory activation process, may be placed on yearly signing arrangements and are given the option of being paid directly into their bank account. This has been the Department’s policy for a number of years.

Accordingly, those in receipt of a Jobseeker’s payment who are fully unemployed are contacted when they reach the age of 62 and offered the option of being paid directly into their bank account or continuing to be paid at the post office.