http://www.cityam.com/250993/govcoins-co-founder-robert-kay-explains-why-his-firm-using

It is hard to find updates about this important story. Not clear if this is a true decentralised benefit to users. The company has changed its name, which is normally an indication that it allegedly does not want attention, it is registered as this company now:

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09475420/filing-history

Now called "DISC Holdings Limited"

What is quite alarming is that a phase 3 trial is proposed in quarter 4 of 2017/18 after a 1,000 person 6 month trial.

This looks like an allegedly government supported private ICO arrangement, without a white paper.

I work in social housing in England, so I am aware of the problems with Council Tenants not prioritising to pay their rent and bills now that this is not automatically deducted from benefits and put into tenant's accounts to manage now. Local authorities are seeing massive underpayment of rent. Assistance is definately needed to reduce benefit fraud and help the 'unbanked' manage their finances in a debt based FIAT system.

I just can not see the transparency with Govcoin.

Confusingly there is a UK Information Commissioner's Office registration in the old registered company name of Govcoin:

https://ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/Entry/ZA180486