Taken from the Dept of Social and Family Affairs website
"Personalised Payable Orders are issued by way of a book once or twice a year. This book is cashable weekly at a Post Office nominated by the person. Each payable order is
valid for encashment up to three months from its due date or six months in the case of Child Benefit. The Payable order must only be signed at the Post Office of payment in the presence of the counter staff.
Payable orders which go out-of-date should be returned by the claimant to the Department along with an explanation as to why they were not cashed at the due time. The Department will then give consideration to replacing them. Where a person was unable to attend the Post Office due to illness, supporting medical evidence may be requested by the Department. Any payment to be made on out-of-date orders will be by cheque to a person's home address.
The Department will generally not honour payments (other than Child Benefit) which have not been collected within six months of the due date. The right to such payments is terminated after the six-month period. However, payments can be made on an Extra Statutory basis in the following circumstances:
- where payment is claimed but there was a delay in the Department making the payment.
- where the orders are presented for payment on time but the paying officer through misapprehension or through error, fails or refuses to cash the orders presented.
- where, following official enquiry or change of circumstances the beneficiary is under the mistaken belief that the title to the allowance or benefit has ceased or that an appeal would be influenced by accepting a lower rate of allowance or benefit.
- where orders are not cashed within the prescribed time due to the mental or other incapacity of the beneficiary or his/her agent, and
- in any other circumstances in which the Department is satisfied that payment should be made in equity or to avoid undue hardship (provided no doubt exists as to entitlement to allowance or benefit at the material time).
The address for your query is Child Benefit Section, SWSO, St Oliver Plunkett Rd, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
(link to
website, scroll down to Personal Payable Order section).