§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what safeguards are in place to ensure(a) that the automated payment of benefits to bank accounts is to accounts in claimants' own names and (b) that such accounts are genuinely opened and operated by the claimant in question; in what circumstances he allows benefits to be paid to an account in the name of a person other than the claimant; and if he will make a statement. [94895]
§ Malcolm WicksBenefits are paid into the account nominated on the claim form by the claimant. The claims and payments regulations allow payment into accounts in the name of the person entitled to benefit, or their spouse (or partner), or a person acting on their behalf, or in the joint names of the person entitled to benefit and their spouse (or partner), or the person entitled to benefit and a person acting on their behalf. These are the options listed on claim forms or other relevant literature.