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