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How are Benefits paid to me?
Most benefits have traditionally been paid to you through order books, girocheques, or paying the money directly into your bank or building society accounts.
This will all change very soon!
In the future, all benefits will be paid directly into your bank or building society account through Direct Payment. Order books and girocheques will be a thing of the past.
Direct Payment is the modern, efficient way of paying money to individuals. It is the same way that most employers will pay their employees wages into their bank accounts.
If your benefits are currently paid into your bank or building society account, then you will not need to do anything. However, if your benefits are currently being paid to you through girocheques or order books, then you will need to make alternative arrangements very soon.
This change will only affect the way in which you are paid your benefits. The amounts that you will receive will remain the same, and will continue to be paid to you on the same day, with the same frequency (monthly, fortnightly, or weekly) as it has always been.
In order to make the necessary changes, the benefit office will contact you with details of what actions you will need to take. They will then ask you to provide them with the details of the account that you want your benefits paid into.
You can choose which account to have from a wide range of services available at many banks and building societies, as well as a Post Office account.
The main advantage of having your benefits paid in this way is that you won’t have to take all your money around in one go – this should give you more control over your spending, and means that you don’t have to carry so much cash on you, and risk losing it or having it stolen.
If you require any further information, you can call the Direct Payment information line on 0800 107 2000.
Disclaimer, Target Audience, Jurisdiction Last updated & checked: 29/03/2006