§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether benefit and tax credit claimants will be allowed to choose between(a) a card account at the Post Office, (b) a basic bank account and (c) another type of bank account, in order to continue to receive their benefit and tax credit payments; and whether the information available to benefit and tax credit claimants will include clear description of each of these options and will set out their advantages and disadvantages. [65260]
§ Malcolm WicksYes.
The Department and the Inland Revenue will be providing customers with all the information they will need (including details of the respective features of each type of account) to choose the account which is most appropriate for them.
Around 85 per cent. of our customers already have access to a suitable account for receiving payments of benefits and tax credits. While we anticipate that most people will choose to have their money paid into an existing account or open a basic bank account, no one will be prevented from opening a card account at the Post Office if they wish.