Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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530. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she agrees with jobseekers’ benefit recipients being taken off electronic funds transfer and being compelled to collect cash at a post office as a result of having been customers with a bank (details supplied). [51852/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Before the introduction of temporary public health measures in March 2020, the default payment method for Jobseekers was cash collection at a post office. The requirement to physically present at a post office to collect a welfare payment is an important financial control. This is particularly important for Jobseekers as the qualifying criteria for that scheme include being resident in the State and being available for work.

When health restrictions were introduced in 2020, all Jobseekers were given the option of being paid into a bank account. This was an exceptional temporary measure 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 Covid-19 restrictions earlier this year, I had asked my Department to revert to the pre-pandemic payment rules for Jobseekers’ payments.

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

Following your representation my officials reviewed the circumstances under which the payment method was changed for the person concerned. It has been determined that the person should have been allowed to continue to receive her Jobseeker’s Benefit payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) at this time. Officials have contacted the person concerned to advise her accordingly. When the person provides my Department with her new bank details they will be promptly updated and her Jobseeker's Benefit payment will be paid into her nominated bank account. Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.