A front office for government

Modernising. Here to stay. Everywhere.

Make the Post Office your front office

Post Office branches provide an unrivalled, trusted way to reach people.

Using Post Office branches to deliver services such as applications and payments can unlock significant savings for councils, government departments and other public agencies.

Post Office supports councils and departments by offering:

• A wide range of application and payment services
• Fraud reduction through identity verification
• Improved quality and accuracy of applications
• Reduced paper handling
• Face-to-face and self-service transactions

With its secure network, Post Office branches support digital transactions by capturing data, converting it digitally and passing it directly to councils and departments. This is particularly valuable in supporting people without online access to transact digitally with public services.

One of our key strengths is the ability to verify identity. By validating documents and checking eligibility, Post Office can improve accuracy and reduce fraud, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing costs for public agencies.

Here are just a few of the services we currently provide for government departments and agencies.

Driving licence 10-year renewal

Motorists can use one of our 750 Application, Enrolment and Identification (AEI) booths to renew their photocard driving licence. This service for the DVLA is in addition to the 20 million Vehicle Excise Duty (tax disc) applications processed through branches every year.
 

Passport Check & Send

Post Office manages Passport Check & Send on behalf of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). Error rates from Check & Send transactions at Post Office branches are consistently between just 1% and 2%, compared to over 10% for applications sent direct to the IPS.
 

Bank accounts

We manage more than 3 million Post Office Card Accounts. These are simple bank accounts for those receiving benefits, state pensions and tax credit payments.
 

Working with Government towards the future

Post Office works closely with government departments and councils to explore new ways of improving the delivery of public services.

Using our advanced biometric data capture technology, we ran pilots for the Home Office UK Border Agency to support applications for Biometric Residence Permits. In December 2011 we were awarded a contract for four years to offer the service at around 100 branch locations from spring 2012.

We’re also running three pilots for the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to support the design of future public services. These are:

• Verifying identity as part of the National Insurance application process
• Support for jobseekers who live in more rural areas
• Verification of supporting documents such as birth and marriage certificates for customers of the Pension Service

More information

Download the Government’s Post Office policy framework

If you have a question, would like to discuss your requirements, or would like to receive regular updates, email the Front Office for Government team at government@postoffice.co.uk and we’ll get back you.

If you’d like information on how we support local councils deliver public services, go to www.postoffice.co.uk/localgovernment.