Lord Campbell of Croyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What facilities will be available to enable disabled people to draw their pensions when local post offices and rural branches of banks have closed. [HL5815]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)Payment directly into bank or building society accounts (including the Post Office card account) will become the normal method of payment of benefits and pensions from April 2003.
All customers including disabled people will be given information so that they can choose the account most suitable for them. One of the things they will need to consider is ease of access to local banks and post offices.
Customers will normally have some choice as to where and when they collect their money, so they will not be tied to any particular bank or post office branch.