The Treasury Minister has released new data on MiCard usage and cheque‑based benefit payments following a written question from Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper.
As of February, 30 MiCards remain in use, after 34 were issued under the Payment Exception Service and four recipients later switched to receiving payments by cheque.
The Minister Chris Thomas MHK also confirmed that 158 people were scheduled to receive their benefit or pension by cheque during the week beginning February 16.
The number has been falling as more customers move to direct bank payments or leave the benefits system.
Of the 862 benefit and pension cheques issued in January, 160 cheques, covering 122 payees, had not yet been cleared by February 10.
The Minister noted that beneficiaries have up to 12 months to cash or deposit their cheques, meaning delays in collection are common and permitted under social security legislation.
