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The Government has set a deadline that could leave 24,000 people who claim Child benefit, Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits and Guardian’s Allowance out of pocket if they don’t act.
HMRC has issued an urgent warning to claimants who use Post Office card accounts, that they will no longer receive payments unless they update their details by November 30.
If recipients fail to do so they may have their payments temporarily frozen after December 1.
READ MORE: Martin Lewis tells Brits on benefits how they could be entitled to a £1,200 bonus
It is estimated that around 24,000 claimants might be affected by the change if they don’t update their bank details by the deadline, which is poor timing for many as we enter the expensive Christmas period.
Customers can choose to receive their benefits and credits payments to a bank, building society or credit union account instead.
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.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Time is running out for customers who have been using a Post Office card account to get payments from us. They need to give us their new account details now to avoid their payments being suspended.
“They can update their details online or by calling us, and they need to be very careful to avoid handing over personal details to fraudsters contacting them claiming to be from HMRC.”
If someone fails to update their details in time payments will stop until they do.
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The Money Advice and Pensions Service offers information and advice about how to choose the right current account and how to open an account .
HMRC says it has been writing to affected customers to notify them that their Post Office card accounts will be closing.
It has also urged everyone to be alert if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information, due to the high numbers of fraudsters emailing, calling or texting people claiming to be from the department.
The Post Office account closures won’t affect those on DWP benefits for another year.
In September 2021, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that it has agreed a 12-month extension for its customers who use a Post Office card account.
If any HMRC customers also receive DWP payments, this extension only applies to DWP-related payments.
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