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Postal campaigners (from left): Ashok, Reepa and Sudhir
Patel |
It's all change at the post office counter
Fears for pensioners’ cash after
changes announced
A POST Office in Highgate Road is spearheading a campaign
to change a government policy that they say will make it harder
for elderly and disabled people to collect pensions and benefits.
Reepa Patel, who runs the Highgate Road post office with her
father and uncle Ashok and Sudhir, have collected hundred’s
of signatures as part of a borough-wide campaign after the Department
of Work and Pensions announced it is going ahead with plans
to cancel card accounts held at post offices and transfer them
to banks. The government says it will save money and was only
planned as a temporary measure.
But Post Offices, who have traditionally paid out the money,
say they could close if the plans go ahead.
The system, which was introduced in 2005, saw the end of pensions
books. This meant people did not need to withdraw all their
cash at once.
The Patels say the changes will threaten their livelihood –
and have disastrous effects for their regular customers.
Ms Patel said: “It will effect everyone who gets help from
the government – pensioners, people on income support,
incapacity benefits, disability allowances. They will have to
travel much further, and often these are the people who have
difficulty getting bank accounts.”
Ms Patel, whose family have run the post office for five years,
added that her service was not just about selling stamps and
helping with benefits – and was the only post office in
the area. The two nearest other sub-post offices – in Mansfield
Road and Chetwynd Road – have closed.
She said: “We are an important part of the community. People
come in for a chat, and we know our customers well.”
A spokesman for the National Federation of Sub-Post masters
has backed the Patel’s petition. A spokesman said: “The
withdrawal of vital services like this will force thousands
of post offices to close across the country.”
A post office spokesman said: “The future of the post office
card account is in the hands of the government and we are talking
to the department of work and pensions about their plans.” |
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