Micard option for benefits and pensions

Isle of Man Post Office has begun rolling out a key part of its digital strategy this week - despite plans for its corporatisation ending in disarray.

A scheme to pay social security benefits and pensions using card technology is being extended across the post office's network, after trials at Foxdale and Anagh Coar post offices.

Micard allows claimants to access their benefits from they day they are due - without the need to wait for printed vouchers and cheques in the post.

The Post Office says the Micard scheme is convenient and secure for claimants and will help reduce Treasury costs. 

Isle of Man Post Office's Director of Innovation and Technology Simon Kneen said: “Interacting with our customers in new ways, creating customer portal access to postal and digital services is essential for our expansion. We must introduce ways of enhancing our customer service and striving to improve the way we deliver our various services and products to customers both on and off Island." 

Isle of Man Post Office is currently involved in a project with the Office of Human Resources to digitise archived and current records, and is playing what it says is a 'fundamental' role in the 2016 interim Census. 

In Tynwald on Tuesday (19 April) government narrowly lost a vote which would have changed Isle of Man Post Office from a statutory board to a limited company, allowing greater commercial freedom.

The Post Office board saw the change of status as key to its plans for international expansion.