Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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501. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if social welfare payments can now only be collected at post offices; the rationale behind the decision; the measures put in place to ensure that disabled persons can access their payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7890/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides two payment options for its customers: payment in cash at post offices or payment directly into customer accounts by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). Last month, 72% of all Social Welfare payments were made by EFT and 27% were by cash collection at post offices. A small number of ad hoc payments were also made by cheque, which represented less than one per cent of all payments.

Customers are offered a choice of payment method for most Social Welfare schemes.

Before the introduction of temporary public health measures in March 2020, the default payment method for jobseeker payments was cash collection at a post office.

When health restrictions were introduced in 2020, all jobseekers were given the option of being paid into a bank account. This was a temporary measure introduced to help reduce the spread of the virus and to ensure that people could comply with social distancing guidelines.

In line with the general easing of restrictions, I have asked my Department to revert to the normal payment rules for jobseeker payments. I believe this is the right approach to take in terms of supporting the post office network and in ensuring that, with the removal of restrictions, we return to the pre-pandemic position.

This change will initially apply to new claims. Over the coming months, my Department will work to extend the post office requirement to other categories of Jobseeker claims.

I acknowledge that some people who are immuno-compromised may want to avoid crowded settings. If a person is in this situation, the advice is to contact the nearest Department of Social Protection office. My officials there will offer help so that these people may still be able to receive their payment online in exceptional circumstances.

The return to pre-pandemic jobseeker payment rules does not affect any other Social Welfare scheme. People with disabilities will continue to have a choice of payment method, including the option of being paid by EFT.

Those categories of jobseekers who were paid by EFT prior to March 2020, such as those in part-time work, for example, will also be unaffected by this decision. It should be noted that one in four jobseeker payments were paid into customers’ bank accounts by EFT before March 2020.

As far as possible, the Department remains committed to providing Social Welfare recipients a choice of payment method. Its consistent position has been that it will respect customer choice as appropriate and make payments in line with customer preference where choice is available.