New Public Services Cards (PSCs)

I can sympathise with anyone who finds themselves in the position of needing social welfare support.  Many people have said to me that they intensely dislike having to receive same and feel terrible to have to do so.  However, I always tell them that they deserve support, who knows when any of us will find ourselves or loved ones in the same position.  The purpose of this new services card is to ensure that every penny goes to those who genuinely need it and deserve it.  Because financially we (country)are in a bad way, the government wants to ensure we protect those whose claims are deserving.  Now I know many will say to me what about the waste here and the payments there that anger the public and personally I believe that even more scrutiny must be applied and be fully accounted for.  The system must be transparent and above all fair.
The New Public Services Cards (PSCs) are being distributed to social welfare recipients from the beginning of October. This will replace the Travel Card and Social services Card. It will be piloted in Tullamore, Sligo and Dublin before spreading to Cork and other regions in 2012. The card is designed like an ATM card and will contain name, signature and photo of the cardholder on the front. The back will feature a magnetic stripe which contains further information such as PPS which can be electronically read. The purpose of the card is to target welfare fraud and overpayments which cost the state €83.4 million in 2010. The government wants to ensure that social welfare funds are not illegally appropriated but are distributed to those who need them the most.