Government's Great Christmas "Bah Hambug!" - Foster

4.34.20pm GMT Wed 17th Nov 2004

Pensioners, benefit claimants and sub-post masters are not in for a very merry Christmas this year, all thanks to Government technicalities and intransigence.

Any state benefits or pensions due to be paid into accounts on 24th, 25th, 27th or the 28th December will all be paid in on one day - Christmas Eve!

Furthermore, under the old pension book system, pensioners and those on benefits could claim two weeks at once to enable them to plan for the festive season, but in true Scrooge style, the government are refusing to allow this with their new Card Accounts and Direct Payments.

Commenting, Don said,

"Government intransigence is going to create chaos this Christmas.

"Not only will people have to wait till the very last minute to claim the money they need to get them over the Christmas period, the pressure on the post offices is going to be immense.

"Far from being a special time for family, our local post masters are going to have to work harder and for longer than at any Christmas season before - just like Charles Dickens' poor old Bob Cratchett!"

"I've written to the Minister and urged him to consider, if only as a gesture of goodwill and Christmas spirit to help everyone involved, that benefits for that period are released a few days early. That will make life so much easier for everyone."

"If it's too late for this year, then I want their assurance that the same mistake won't be made again."

ENDS.

For comments from the Post Office staff, ring Jerry Lewis, Portway Post Office, Frome (Secretary of local Sub-postmasters Federation )on 01373 467294.