§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his written statement of 11 May 2004,Official Report, columns 6–7WS, on vulnerable customers (payments by cheque), at what point the (a) Pension Service, (b) Jobcentre and (c) Disability Benefits Office will accept that a vulnerable customer's payment by cheque is late or lost; and whether a vulnerable customer, if they have not received any post on the day payment is due, will be able to contact their Pension Office and receive an emergency payment that day. [17424]
§ Mr. PondWe will ensure that people get the money they are entitled to. Where a cheque payment does not arrive by the due payday, the customer should initially contact the office which normally pays their benefit or pension. Arrangements for replacement payments will vary depending upon the individual circumstances and needs of each customer.
Paying by cheque is a well-established method of payment that the Department has used successfully since 1968. We already have procedures in place for dealing with missing payments. We will ensure they continue to meet the needs of those customers paid by cheque.