§ Mr. Alan ReidTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what procedures his Department will put in place to pay benefits and pensions from 2005 to clients who by that time have not nominated a bank or Post Office Card Account to receive their payments and whose order books have expired; [147323]
(2) whether non-respondents to his Department's letters about direct payment will be required to have payments made into a nominated account when order books are withdrawn in April 2005. [147069]
§ Mr. PondWe have always recognised there will be some people, such as those who cannot open or manage any sort of account, and some immediate payments, such as Crisis Loans, that we cannot pay by Direct Payment. We are therefore designing an exceptions method of payment to meet the needs of people in these circumstances. We are in the process of discussing the design of the exceptions method of payment with the representative bodies most directly affected to design a secure and efficient method of payment which meets people's needs.
Until the exception method of payment is in place, customers who choose not to convert to Direct Payment will be able to retain their Order Book. But, they will not be able to keep it indefinitely as Order Books are being phased out.
Recipients of Pension Credit, not previously in receipt of MIG: Great Britain as at October and November 2003 17 October 2003 30 November 2003 Households Individuals Households Individuals Great Britain total 133,570 179,120 302,265 404,555 Guarantee credit only 8,740 11,455 27,215 35,820 Guarantee credit and savings credit 31,940 39,170 82,530 101,220 Savings credit only 92,895 128,495 192,520 267,515
Recipients of Pension credit, in receipt or not in receipt of MIG: Great Britain as at October and November 2003 17 October 2003 30 November 2003 Households Individuals Households Individuals Great Britain total 1,902.250 2,246,985 2,056,010 2,454,640 Previously on MIG 1,768,680 2,067,870 1,753,745 2,050,085 Previously NOT on MIG 133,570 179,120 302,265 404,555 Notes:
- 1. Figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.
- 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5
- 3. Figures might not sum due to rounding.
- 4. A household may be a single person or a couple. Figures for individuals show total numbers of individuals in households where Pension Credit is in payment, i.e. two individuals where Pension Credit is in payment to a couple, and include a small number of partners under age 60.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent sample