This is an easy account to open and operate. It enables you to have access to your benefit / pension payments in cash from the Post Office.

BENEFITS OF THE POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT
A card and P.I.N. [personal identification number] gives free of charge access to your money at any Post Office. You can change the P.I.N. number given to you and chose your own at any Post Office Branch.

The POca enables you to keep your benefit / pension payments separate from any other bank accounts.

You do not have to draw all your payments at one time. You can leave any remaining balance in the account for as long as you choose.

The Maximum daily withdrawal amount is £600.

The close proximity of your local Post Office means less time and money spent travelling to a bank to withdraw your benefit / pension. A lot more convenient and better for the environment, if you would need to use a vehicle or public transport to get to the bank.

There is no opportunity to go overdrawn, so there are no unwelcome and unanticipated bank charges to worry about.

You will be in a secure environment when you draw your cash. No possibility of 'cloning cards' and no queuing in front of an A.T.M. in the high street.

HOW DO I OPEN AN ACCOUNT?
The process is really easy:

1.
If you are about to receive a new benefit / pension, or are currently having your benefit / pension paid directly into another bank account, inform the issuing authority that you would like to open a POca.

2.
Ask them to send you a personal invitation document [P.I.D.]. This is basically a letter with your name, address and National Insurance number included.

3.
Take this to your local Post Office and they will issue you with the form, help you to fill it in [if required] and then send it to the processing body.

4.
You should receive your sort code and account number within two weeks, under separate cover. They will also send your P.I.N. number and a letter informing you that your POca is ready to collect at your local Post Office.

5.
You then inform the benefit agency of your new sort code and account number and your money will be paid into your new account, ready to draw at your local Post Office!

If you have any questions pop into any Post Office and ask the staff who will be more than happy to help.

Please remember:
IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO CONTINUE TO DRAW YOUR MONEY AT YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE.

BY OPENING A POca YOU WILL ENJOY THE BENEFITS OUTLINED ABOVE AND ALSO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE BRANCH.

Contact Numbers for PLYMOUTH; WEST DEVON; NORTH AND EAST CORNWALL AREAS:

• Inland Revenue & Child Benefit: 0845 3021444
• Pensions: 0845 6060265
• Department for Work & Pensions Central Plymouth: Durley House 01752 27200
• Department for Work & Pensions Stoke/East P|ymouth: Queens House: 01752 616200