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Post Office card accounts

Benefits are usually paid straight in to your bank, building society or credit union account.

This is the best option for the majority of benefit and pension recipients as it provides access to a wider range of financial services.

Advantages

The advantages of a mainstream account include:

  • increased flexibility of withdrawing money from a variety of places, including a wide range of banks and cash machines
  • utility companies offer discounts for paying household bills by direct debit
  • helps with effective budgeting
  • payment of salary
  • cashless transactions
  • most bank accounts can be accessed free of charge, at the Post Office counter or cash machine
  • a secure way for you to receive your benefit or pension

If you are claiming Universal Credit you can update your bank details using your Universal Credit online account or you can phone the Universal Credit Service Centre

The Payment Exception Service

Since 2 August 2021, a new payment exception service was introduced for customers who cannot open or manage a bank, building society or credit union account. 

It is intended as a short-term method of payment only which must be replaced as soon as you are able to open a bank/ building society, credit union account.

If you were previously paid into a Post Office card account and cannot open or manage a bank account you will automatically have been moved to the new Payment Exception Service between August 2021 and May 2022.

The new service replaces both Post Office card accounts (POca) and Her Majesty’s Government Payment Exception Service (HMGPES).

It is a voucher based service which can be paid by Payment Card, SMS text or Pdf via email.

To cash the voucher, customers can present their card, phone or printed voucher with the appropriate proof of identity to any Post Office branch or PayPoint outlet and exchange the vouchers for cash.

Vouchers will be issued up to the value of £100 and the full value of the voucher must be withdrawn.

Cashing vouchers is dependent on the payment outlet having available cash. You may need to visit more than one payment outlet to retrieve the full value of all vouchers as cash availability cannot be guaranteed at all payment outlets

Vouchers must be cashed within 90 days. 

You have 90 days to collect your payment and failure to do so will result in payment expiring. If the vouchers run out, you will need to be contacted to arrange for the payment to be reissued which may take additional time.

Further information can be found at Payment Exception Service or via the PES telephony helpline number 0800 015 2902.

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Before claiming a benefit

  • Claiming benefits in Europe - EEA countries
  • Direct Payments and the different types available
  • How benefits and pensions are paid
  • How to claim benefit
  • How to find out if you qualify for benefits
  • Post Office card accounts
  • Understanding the benefits system

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What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

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