Benefit boost for UK Post Offices

The Department for Social Development has stressed that people who wish to collect benefits from Post Offices will still be able to do so after April 2003.

The Department hit back at claims that the new system of direct payment will impact on rural post offices.

A spokesman said: “Some rural Post Offices may be under threat from closure however this is not as a result of Direct Payment, which is the new method of paying benefits.

“The Government recently committed a pounds 21 million funding package supporting rural Post Offices in Northern Ireland.”

Direct Payment of benefits into either a Post Office or bank/building society account can help rural Post Offices continue to serve local people, he explained.

“This new service means that social security customers can withdraw as little or as much of their money at their own convenience.”