Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason Alternative Fuel Payments are not made to building society accounts.

The system for bank account payments in the UK is more standardised than for building society payments. Therefore, to reduce the burden on local authorities, the Government has taken the decision to only allow bank account payments for the Alternative Fuel Payment.

Basic bank accounts are free to open, and do not have the same credit check requirements as a standard current account. Applicants can open a basic bank account in branch, or sometimes online or over the phone, depending on the bank.