From November 30 2022, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed it will no longer make payments to Post Office Card Accounts (POca). The Government has explained its preference is to pay into a bank, building society or credit union.
The NPC has written to the DWP to ask if all of the individuals affected, by not having a bank account, have will still been able to access their pension in one of the ways open to them. It is important that no one falls through the cracks and that people can still access their money.
Download the letter to the Department for Work and Pensions
Dear Sir/Madam
Re: Post Office Card Account
Our members have been aware for some time in regard to the move to close the Post Office card account whereby older people can no longer have their pension paid into their account.
There were several options for those individuals without access to bank accounts and we are aware that the DWP has seemingly not paid any pensions into the Post Office card account since April this year.
For the voucher system by email or text, a smart phone or email access is necessary – things not all pensioners have or can afford. Along with the Payment Exemption card, all access to payments are through a PayPoint function which are not always conveniently situated for individuals to get to.
With banks closing their smaller branches in communities, the Post Office has become a lifeline for many pensioners where they can socialise and feel comfortable when dealing with their finances.
We are writing to ask if all the individuals affected by not having a bank account have been able to access their pension in one of the ways open to them. It is concerning to us that no one falls through the cracks, particularly those who are not connected to technology and therefore unable to access your website. It is important to each and every one that they are not discriminated against because they do not have the appropriate technology to access your give system of payment.
It would be much appreciated if you could confirm the numbers already migrated to another form of access to their pension payments and those yet to still move across with an understanding of where the barriers are for those still waiting.
With the cost of living situation at an all-time high, the National Pensioners Convention is keen to understand any problems encountered by this change and to ask you to ensure that nobody is excluded from receiving their rightful pension payment.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Jan Shortt
General Secretary