Post Office Card Accounts (Hansard, 9 December 2002)

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many personal invitations documents for post office card accounts will be printed; [86210]
(2) what proof of identity will be required for future holders of a post office card account who are in receipt of pensions and benefits. [86215]

§ Malcolm Wicks
Customers who wish to open a post office card account will be issued with a personal invitation document to take to their post office branch where they will then be handed a post office card account application form to fill in.
Customers will need to prove who they are when opening a post office card account by presenting items such as a current passport, a full current driving licence or a council tax or utility bill. The personal invitation document can also act as a form of identification. We have said repeatedly that anyone who wants to open a card account will be able to do so, so there is no need to "ration" post office card accounts by restricting the number of personal invitation documents that are printed.

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what criteria are being employed in the decision to approve promotional literature for the post office card account; [86212]
(2) when he will make a decision approving the promotional literature for the post office card accounts. [86213]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The Department for Work and Pensions will be writing to customers over the next two years when it is their turn to change to direct payment into their account. Customers will be provided with information (including letters and leaflets) which clearly sets out the different types of accounts and enables them to choose the account that best meets their needs and circumstances.
All of our information material includes references to post office access and post office card accounts; there is no need for any specific promotional literature for the post office card account. The post office have also 142W produced customer information which mentions the post office card account and have plans to produce further material.

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are being made for those pensioners and benefit claimants who wish to apply for a post office card account who have(a) hearing difficulties, (b) impaired sight, (c) serious learning difficulties, (d) mental illness and (e) seriously restricted mobility. [86217]

§ Malcolm Wicks
There will be a range of accounts available for people. We will provide customers with information (including letters and leaflets) which clearly sets out the account options as part of the move to direct payment. Customers, including those with a disability, will then be able to consider the options available and choose the account that best meets their needs and circumstances. They will be asked to provide details of their chosen account so that the Department can begin to pay their benefit or pensions by direct payment.
Post office card account customers will also be able to give third party access to a nominated individual who will be able to access their account via a second card and a separate PIN.
It has always been recognised that there will be some customers who are unable to use any of the banking options or the post office card account. For these people we are currently exploring the options available to ensure they receive their benefit at outlets which will include the post office.

§ Lady Hermon
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the procedure for opening a post office card account; and whether he plans to take action to simplify it. [86474]

§ Malcolm Wicks
The Department for Work and Pensions will be writing to customers in Great Britain over the next two years when it is their turn to change to direct payment into an account. Customers will be provided with information (including letters and leaflets) which clearly sets out the different types of accounts and enables them to choose the account that best meets their needs and circumstances.
Customers who wish to open a post office card account will need to contact the Department to discuss their account options with an adviser. They will then be issued with a personal invitation document. This document should then be taken to a post office branch where the customer will be given a post office card account application form to complete.
Overall the process of applying for a post office card account is already straightforward and no more onerous than that of applying for a basic (or other) bank account.
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Similar arrangements will be put in place for customers living in Northern Ireland by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.