Time is running out for people collecting tax credits and child benefit payments through Post Office accounts who now have just a month left to make alternative arrangements for their money.

From April 5 HMRC will stop making payments to those with Post Office card accounts and it is warning thousands will miss out on vital payments unless they contact officials with new account details.

The move will also affect those who claim a Guardian's Allowance.

In November last year, HMRC extended its deadline and arrangement with the Post Office until the end of the financial year in the hope that a one-off extension would mean customers had extra time to set up new accounts and notify the department.

Almost 138,000 customers, it says, have now done so and switched their accounts and provided HMRC with updated bank details but more than 7,500 have not.

Customers can choose to receive their benefit payments to a bank, building society or credit union account.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: "We want to make sure that no customer misses out on the benefit payments they are entitled to. If you still need to switch your Post Office card account, contact HMRC to update your bank account details by April 5.

"Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance customers can use their Personal Tax Account to provide revised account details, change their bank account details via GOV.UK or by contacting the Child Benefit helpline on 0300 200 3100. Tax credits customers can change their bank account details by contacting the tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900. If customers cannot open a bank account, they should contact HMRC."

Anyone who misses the April 5 deadline will have their payments paused until they can provide different bank details.

HMRC says it has been contacting customers recently to encourage them to take action and will continue to do so as the cut-off point gets closer.