MiCard users offered payment exception service

The government says benefit claimants and pensioners without a bank account can contact it about a payment exception service.

The current MiCard payment system will be scrapped on December 31 to save £500,000 a year.

Around two-thirds of claimants have already arranged to switch to being paid directly into accounts.

But the Treasury says a payment exception service will be available for those who can't receive such payments, and is urging people to contact the Social Security team as soon as possible.