Time is quickly running out for thousands of people who collect working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit or Guardian’s Allowance payments through a Post Office card account (POca).
From April 6, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will no longer make payments into POca accounts and for months has been urging benefits claimants over the last three years to make alternative account arrangements and contact them with the updated information.
However, last week more than 6,800 customers had still not switched accounts and now face the stark reality of having continuous payments interrupted until they provide the relevant department with those details.
These could be vital funds for families and individuals, due to the rise in the cost of living, and HMRC is keen to make sure no-one loses out.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services recently said: “Time is running out and we want to make sure that no customer misses out on the benefit payments they are entitled to.
"If you still need to switch your Post Office card account, contact HMRC to update your bank account details.”
HMRC has been writing to affected customers since October 2019 to notify them that their Post Office card accounts will be closing and urging them to take action.
More than 143,000 customers have already switched their accounts and provided HMRC with updated details.
Customers can choose to receive their benefit payments to a bank, building society or credit union account. If they already have an alternative account, they can contact HMRC now to update their details.
Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance customers can use their Personal Tax Account to provide revised account details, change their bank account details via GOV.UK or by contacting the Child Benefit helpline on 0300 200 3100.
Tax Credits customers can change their bank account details by contacting the tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900.
If customers cannot open a bank account, they should contact HMRC as soon as possible.
If a customer misses the April 5 deadline, their payments will be paused until they notify HMRC of their new account details.
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