Treasury says that MiCard payments for a small number of people without bank accounts will end on December 31, with only a short-term cheque and voucher system in place until March 31 2027.
Just under 30 customers currently use MiCards, while around 150 others have bank accounts but choose to cash cheques at post offices.
A temporary arrangement from January 1 2027 will allow MiCard users to cash Treasury cheques or vouchers at five post office hubs.
Those already cashing cheques can continue but both arrangements will expire on March 31 2027.
Treasury officers are exploring longer-term options from 1 April 2027, including electronic payment cards which would be usable at ATMs and in shops, Treasury vouchers exchangeable at retail outlets, or direct cash provision on presentation of vouchers and photo ID.
A November 2025 Tynwald motion required Treasury to “continue to develop longer term methods of payment of benefits and pensions to users without access to bank accounts and report back to Tynwald in no later than 6 months”.
The vast majority of customers will continue receiving payments directly into bank accounts.