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By DAN CARRIER
 

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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