Dear Sir or Madam,

Recently, a FOI request was made concerning the compulsion of
benefits recipients to open and/or operate a bank account, in order
to receive benefits.

The respondent on behalf of the DWP, Carol Smith of Information and
Devolution Policy, WC2N 6HT, replied that there was indeed, no
element of compulsion, either in law or practice which would permit
the DWP to require recipients of benefits to open and/or operate a
bank account. (The reply may be viewed publicly at
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/38...
)

This seems to conflict with the recent communications which have
been sent out by the DWP 'Customer Payments Centre' office, at
Jupiter Drive, Chester, CH70 8DB, to recipients of benefits, which
clearly states "We will need to change the way we pay you because
we will soon start to phase out cheques".

I therefore ask for any documentation held by the DWP, (either
minutes from board meetings, internal memos, policy documents) in
relation to :

i - When will the DWP begin to phase out cheque payments? ii - When
will cheque payments be discontinued? iii - How will the DWP
accommodate persons who do not wish to open a bank account? v -
Under what legislation (which must have come into power since the
request I refer to previously was made) does the DWP plan to
discontinue payments by cheque, and force recipients to own and
operate bank accounts?

Yours faithfully,

Ms Anne Thrope

[Subject only] Thank you for your e-mail

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Dear Ms Thrope

Please see attached acknowledgement.

Many thanks

Cenral FoI Team
Department for Work & Pensions
Information and Devolution Policy - DP/FoI (part of Legal Group)
Freedom of Information Unit
The Adelphi 2nd Floor
1 - 11 John Adam Street
London
WC2N 6HT

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Dear Ms Thrope

Please find attached response to your FoI request of the 8th July.

Kind regards

Central FoI Team
Department for Work & Pensions
Information and Devolution Policy - DP/FoI (part of Legal Group)
Freedom of Information Unit
The Adelphi 2nd Floor
1 - 11 John Adam Street
London
WC2N 6HT

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