Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
872 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason persons in receipt of a contributory pension who choose to receive it by electronic transfer to their bank account are two weeks in arrears; and the reason there is a difference of three weeks between both methods. [11557/04]
View answerPayment of pensions by electronic fund transfer is generally made every fortnight in arrears. Payment by payable order or book voucher is paid weekly in advance. The difference in the payment frequencies arises for technical reasons associated with EFT. The alignment of payment frequencies will be progressed as soon as the necessary work to resolve the technical issues can be carried out.
Most people who opt for EFT do so when they make their initial claim so there is no interruption to the flow of payments once the claim is allowed. Where an existing recipient opts to switch from pension book to EFT the different payment cycle may result in a temporary interruption of payment. Each person, regardless of payment method, receives the same quantum of payments over the lifetime of his or her claim.
