Island residents who collect their pensions and benefits from Anagh Coar and Foxdale Post Offices will soon use a smart card to get their money, under a new scheme to be piloted early in 2015, subject to Tynwald approval.
The “MiCard” initiative will mean that social security customers will no longer have to wait for their benefit cheques or vouchers to arrive in the post before they can get their cash.
Promoted by the Treasury in partnership with the Isle of Man Post Office, MiCard is designed to make life easier for the customer while supporting the Island’s network of local Post Office counters by retaining payments at these.
The move to electronic payments in place of cheques and vouchers will also cut down on paperwork and processes within Treasury’s Social Security Division, which pays state pensions and benefits at Post Offices to around 11,500 of its customers.
As well as being simple and easy to use, the MiCard system is also very secure and is PIN protected. No cash value or personal data is stored on the card and there is no risk of misplacing vouchers or cheques. For those customers who are unable to collect their own benefits, arrangements can be made for a nominated person to collect their benefits or pension on their behalf.
Customers of Foxdale and Anagh Coar Post Offices will be asked to assist with the pilot and they will shortly receive a personal letter from Social Security with details of the new trial. Throughout the entire process the chosen customers will be supported by Social Security and Post Office staff, and their feedback will be welcomed.
The pilot is expected to last around three months. Once all procedures have been satisfactorily tested and approved the Treasury hopes to roll out MiCard across the Post Office network later in 2015.
Eddie Teare MHK, Treasury Minister said:
'The MiCard initiative offers Social Security customers a convenient and secure method of accessing their entitlements. It is also very much in line with Government’s policy of modernising systems and reducing bureaucracy. I look forward to the results of the pilot scheme with interest.’
Graham Cregeen MHK, Isle of Man Post Office Chairman said:
'We are pleased to be part of this exciting new initiative that uses cutting edge technology to help make Social Security customers lives easier. MiCard will provide customers with an improved service, a more efficient method of paying benefits and pensions whilst maintaining payments at our network of 26 Post Offices across the Island, which helps to support and protect their viability.'
For more information please contact Treasury’s dedicated MiCard line: +44 1624 686297
