Written answers

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Payments

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

441. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a public services card or other photographic identification is required to be presented in order to collect a social welfare payment from a post office; if so, the reason for this requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22450/23]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Social Protection operates its contract for cash payment services with An Post. The Department and An Post agreed a protocol in 2014, which was renewed in 2019, governing the forms of identification which claimants, or their agents, must produce in order to collect payments. There has been no change in this agreed protocol or in the forms of identification required of claimants to collect their social welfare payments.

Social welfare claimants must present one of the Department of Social Protection payment cards when collecting payments. These cards are; the Public Services Card, the Social Services Card and the Temporary Payment Card.

The Public Services Card, or PSC, is an identity token, issued by the Department, following a face to face registration process which involves the capture of an individual’s photograph and signature plus the verification of identity data already held by the Department. No other identification is required of clients when a PSC is presented.

The Social Services Card, or SSC, is a payment token, used to collect DSP payments. The token is issued to claimants who have not yet been registered for and received a PSC. If presenting for payment with an SSC, a person must also provide additional identification. Ideally this should be photographic. Acceptable forms of photographic ID are:

- Current Passport (For Irish and UK passport holders, a passport which has expired within the previous 12 months is acceptable)

- Current (in date) National ID card for EU citizens other than Ireland

- Current (in date) Irish or UK Drivers Licence or Irish Driver Learner Permit

- Current (in date) Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Card or Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card

- Emergency Photo ID produced by the Department.

- Garda ID Age Card

If a claimant holds an SSC but does not have appropriate photographic ID then the following documents are acceptable:

- Medical Card and Proof of Address

- Bank Card and Proof of Address

- Recent work ID and Proof of Address

- Recent communication from Public Service body or Local Authority and Proof of Address.

If a customer holds an SSC but is unable to present either acceptable Photo ID or alternative ID, An Post may make payment based on the personal validation of the Post Office staff on the basis that the customer is known to them by sight and name.

Finally the Temporary Payment Card is a paper document issued by the Department for short-term use by a claimant pending receipt of a PSC or SSC. A temporary payment card is valid for a specific period. An Post may not accept the Temporary Payment Card without the additional forms of identification listed above for the SSC.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.