Delay of Employment Support Allowance benefit payment to Post Office Card Account holders

Due to a technical computer problem, it has not been possible to automatically put Employment Support Allowance (ESA) benefit into Post Office Card Accounts. A small percentage of people receive their ESA benefit in this way.

At this stage, it is anticipated that this will affect approximately 170 customers per day over the next week.

The Social Security Agency (SSA) has put arrangements in place to identify those customers affected, contact them, and ensure, as far as possible, that no customer goes without their benefit payment.

Customer’s who use the Post Office Card Account and who are due to receive a payment over the next week who have not been contacted by the ESA Centre, should ring the ESA Enquiry Line on 0845 602 7301 to arrange a suitable way for their benefit to be paid.

The quickest and most effective way for customers to receive their payment is to pick up a cheque at their local Jobs and Benefit Office. Alternatively, the Agency can issue customers with cheques by post, but this option may be impacted by the current postal dispute.

An SSA spokesperson said: ‘We would like to apologise to those customers who get their ESA through Post Office Card Account. The Social Security Agency is working to resolve the technical problems as soon as possible.”

Notes To editors:

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