CAB open a bank account to claim benefits
I have had a post office card account for years, and my benefits all get paid into it. I struggled with debt before, and don’t have any photo ID, so wasn’t able to open an account elsewhere when I was told my account would be closing. I have now heard that they are no longer closing the post office accounts this year, so can I just stay with them?
There was an announcement that people with post office accounts can continue to use them for any payments they get from the DWP for up to another year. Post office card accounts were supposed to be out of use by the November 30 deadline before this extension was announced.
This means that if you are getting benefits which are managed by the DWP, these include Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, and State Pension amongst many others, you will still be able to be paid this way.
On the other hand, if you are getting a benefit managed by HMRC – child benefit, tax credits, or guardians allowance – you should be aware that your payments will no longer go into your post office card account, as they will be suspended from November 30 this year.
HMRC will only restart your payments once you provide them with account details they can use to pay you. If you are getting these benefits you need to act now.
You should try to open a bank account. Perhaps ask for a basic bank account with no overdraft if you are worried about getting into debt with the bank.
If your benefits are from the DWP you will likely eventually be moved to the Payment Exception Service.
The Payment Exception Service provides people with a card, or a voucher code via email or text message, that they can use at post offices and paypoints.
However, it is very much seen as a last resort by the DWP and, again, you should try to open a bank account as soon as you can. You can then move your payments to your new account by phoning the DWP on 0800 085 7133.
I left my last job a couple of months ago to start somewhere new, but still haven’t received my final two weeks pay or my holidays. I have just had excuses when I have phoned and no good reason for not paying me has been given. What should I do?
When your employer hasn’t paid you what they were supposed to it is known as an “unlawful deduction from wages”.
You should be able to recover money you are due, along with any cost to you of having been paid late, for instance bank charges received because you weren’t paid at the usual time.
We would usually suggest that sending a letter to your old manager saying what you believe you are owed and why would be a good first step, but you also need to be aware of time limits for taking action at Employment Tribunal.
For this type of case, you need to have started Early Conciliation through ACAS within three months of the date you should have been paid.
You should do this even if you haven’t sent a letter to your employer letting them know this is what you are doing, or if you have sent a letter and not received a reply.
If Early Conciliation doesn’t sort things out, you will also need to be aware of time limits for submitting a claim form to employment tribunal.
You will have a month from when the early conciliation certificate is issued to submit your form, and possibly longer if you started Early Conciliation within two months of when you should have been paid.
Speak to an adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau if you need help with letters or taking action. Even if you are out of time and can’t go to Employment Tribunal, you should get some advice about whether it is worth raising action at the local sheriff court.