As of January 2025, 57 percent of UK households reported that their cost of living had increased compared with the previous month. Although this was down from a peak of 91 percent in the summer of 2022, it is evidence of a persistent problem facing the country.
As households continue to navigate economic uncertainty, the question facing housing providers is how to support residents efficiently, securely and inclusively.
While contactless transactions and banking apps are growing in popularity, the importance of cash in local communities has quietly resurged. According to recent insights from UK Finance, the number of people relying primarily on cash increased for the first time since 2019. For many households, particularly those who are financially excluded, unbanked or managing on tight budgets, cash remains a vital tool in regaining control, budgeting effectively and achieving stability.
This is not a trend to be ignored. For housing associations, local authorities and organisations tasked with delivering critical support to vulnerable residents, offering cash is no longer just a legacy option. It’s a strategic necessity.
Meeting real-world needs with modern solutions
The ability to disburse funds swiftly and securely is often a defining factor in how effectively organisations respond to need. Whether it’s offering emergency hardship support, issuing a refund or delivering a household grant, the moment help is required is rarely the moment people have time to navigate banking delays or complex systems.
What’s needed is a system that’s as responsive as the situations it’s designed to address.
That’s where modern cash disbursement technologies like Payout and Payout NOW! come in. Delivered by allpay, a long-standing partner to government, housing and the wider public sector, these solutions combine the familiarity of cash with the power of real-time access. They’re fast, flexible and built for inclusion.
Bringing payments closer to the people who need them
With allpay’s Payout solution, organisations can issue one-time-use cash vouchers that can be redeemed at over 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. For the 99.7% of the population who live within three miles of a branch this is a lifeline unavailable anywhere else. In 2024, allpay disbursed over £3.9 million through its Payout and Payout NOW! service, a testament to both the scale and trust placed in the platform by housing providers, councils and charities alike. Vouchers can be sent via SMS, email or post, ensuring access regardless of digital capability or banking status.
For time-sensitive disbursements, Payout NOW! enables instant delivery of vouchers in real-time, supporting emergency response scenarios with speed and confidence. Both solutions are accessible through a secure online portal, with transparent reporting, daily tracking and simple reconciliation.
But perhaps most importantly, these solutions are customer-first. They remove friction, respect individual preferences and provide peace of mind at a moment when that matters most.
Innovation means inclusion
Too often, financial technology conversations overlook those who rely on cash. But exclusion isn’t innovation. True progress lies in offering flexibility, making it possible to meet people where they are, not where we expect them to be.
For social landlords and local authorities, this means embracing multi-channel payment systems that blend physical and digital payment methods seamlessly. It means giving residents choice. And it means recognising that agility in fund distribution is a key part of tenant support and wellbeing.
Designed for trust and speed
Since 2006, allpay has remained committed to safe, fraud-free and accessible cash disbursement. With expert customer support, verified in-branch ID checks and a fraud-free track record, the Payout suite offers the confidence today’s housing sector needs.
In a landscape where the stakes are human, not just financial, the ability to deliver immediate, practical support can transform outcomes. And in 2025, that means having solutions that are ready when your residents need them most.
Want to find out more about how Payout and Payout NOW! can support your organisation? Contact our team on enquiries@allpay.net or book a demo.
