on benefits? , then post office visit only.

extra ordinary · 25-07-2006, 10:50 PM

strikes me that if you are getting benefit payments and they are huge in type number and variation, then in a UKIP government we shouId say it is down to the post office to collect. I say end auto transfer of funds to accounts - this is a recipe for fraud and mis management.

folk must be given a reason to get out of the house and keep active. sounds small point I know -but I think "if you want the cash you go get it" is tons better than "what is your account number sir / madam" ?

BASILDON BOY · 26-07-2006, 08:54 AM

So you want to make Post Offices the target for armed raids by handling hundreds of thousands of cash again?

Each payment the Post Office charge the Government 70p - UKIP wants to waste hundreds of millions by paying Post Office administration charges?

Mosts things are done by standing order, BACS or direct debit these days - you want people to go and collect the cash - sometimes hundreds of pounds and make them a target for muggings?

With the Post Office payment books people could steal them and continue cashing them.

To stop fraud you need greater identity and anti fraud checks on the individual.

To say people are lazy and should get off their backsides and join a queue in a Post Office for their JSA/IS/Incapacity Benefit/AA/DLA/Pension/Pension Credit/Tax Credit is patronising to say the least.

Idea to nearest rubbish bin.....

extra ordinary · 26-07-2006, 09:22 PM

least the local post office wouId have a reason to exist -they have shut so many, call me daft if you will but the idea of just getting cash paid into your account without having to get out of the chair just ai'nt on.

how many times had my local post office been raided in fifty years? -none. direct payments have just shifted the benefit abuses to the unseen world of credit transfers.

BASILDON BOY · 26-07-2006, 11:59 PM

Having your benefit transferred into a bank account isnt where the abuse of benefit is occuring.

Its identity fraud, the weakekning of checks for people claiming tax credits, identity fraud etc.

Picking benefit up in person won't stop any fraud.

Independent UKIP · 27-07-2006, 02:00 AM

I believe that it is preferable for benefits to be collected in person and at the Post Office but it should not be compulsory for that to happen. In other words the presumption for payment should be via the local Post Office not via the bank account as at present but choice should be there.

Post Offices are an essential community resource. I am amazed that you, Basildon Boy who usually suggest that UKIP should attack the Lib Dems, oppose a suggestion supporting local Post Offices which is a Lib Dem specialty.

Regarding the need to remain physically active whilst receiving benefits, that is spot on but I think incredibly difficult politically to avoid giving ammunition to opponents & the media. They having no personal experience of this don't care how debilitating it is to exist on benefits and will be quick to condemn those who suggest positive action such as requiring people to get out of the house to go to the post office/benefits office once a fortnight. They will present it as a negative whereas for many going to the post office/benefits office is a highlight of their week/fortnight. It will be difficult to promot that as a non-patronising approach unless the person so doing is able to demonstrate personal experience of this & convince their audience accordingly. I don't know anyone at the heart of UKIP who has had that kind of experience - I'd be interested to hear about that.

Bluemerle · 27-07-2006, 10:12 AM

I live in a small village where a lot of elderly people do not drive and do not have a bank account.

We are set to lose our post office, and probably the shop with it, because most people still drive into the towns and shop there. They have already taken away the ability to buy the TV licence in the PO.

The post office is their lifeline, they draw their pensions and do their shopping, meet friendly faces. Most would like to continue doing this, but the Government have decreed it is not to be.

extra ordinary · 27-07-2006, 08:42 PM

the post office shutdowns are an outrage.

I think UKIP shouId be bold and offer up radical policies that will include a revitalised post office network, offering the full range of benefit collections, road tax, postal services etc.
there cannot be a country in the world that chooses to attack this vital resource. what is Blairs Britain doing to us !!

brian pearson · 30-07-2006, 10:31 PM

Totally unfair to expect people to miss Jeremy Kyle just to go and pick up their free money.

25-07-2006, 10:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
extra ordinary Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: south east Posts: 196	on benefits? , then post office visit only. strikes me that if you are getting benefit payments and they are huge in type number and variation, then in a UKIP government we shouId say it is down to the post office to collect. I say end auto transfer of funds to accounts - this is a recipe for fraud and mis management. folk must be given a reason to get out of the house and keep active. sounds small point I know -but I think "if you want the cash you go get it" is tons better than "what is your account number sir / madam" ?

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26-07-2006, 08:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
BASILDON BOY Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: N'Djamena, Chad Posts: 1,819	So you want to make Post Offices the target for armed raids by handling hundreds of thousands of cash again? Each payment the Post Office charge the Government 70p - UKIP wants to waste hundreds of millions by paying Post Office administration charges? Mosts things are done by standing order, BACS or direct debit these days - you want people to go and collect the cash - sometimes hundreds of pounds and make them a target for muggings? With the Post Office payment books people could steal them and continue cashing them. To stop fraud you need greater identity and anti fraud checks on the individual. To say people are lazy and should get off their backsides and join a queue in a Post Office for their JSA/IS/Incapacity Benefit/AA/DLA/Pension/Pension Credit/Tax Credit is patronising to say the least. Idea to nearest rubbish bin.....

26-07-2006, 09:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
extra ordinary Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: south east Posts: 196	least the local post office wouId have a reason to exist -they have shut so many, call me daft if you will but the idea of just getting cash paid into your account without having to get out of the chair just ai'nt on. how many times had my local post office been raided in fifty years? -none. direct payments have just shifted the benefit abuses to the unseen world of credit transfers.

26-07-2006, 11:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
BASILDON BOY Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: N'Djamena, Chad Posts: 1,819	Having your benefit transferred into a bank account isnt where the abuse of benefit is occuring. Its identity fraud, the weakekning of checks for people claiming tax credits, identity fraud etc. Picking benefit up in person won't stop any fraud.

27-07-2006, 02:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Independent UKIP Uber Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 2,421	I believe that it is preferable for benefits to be collected in person and at the Post Office but it should not be compulsory for that to happen. In other words the presumption for payment should be via the local Post Office not via the bank account as at present but choice should be there. Post Offices are an essential community resource. I am amazed that you, Basildon Boy who usually suggest that UKIP should attack the Lib Dems, oppose a suggestion supporting local Post Offices which is a Lib Dem specialty. Regarding the need to remain physically active whilst receiving benefits, that is spot on but I think incredibly difficult politically to avoid giving ammunition to opponents & the media. They having no personal experience of this don't care how debilitating it is to exist on benefits and will be quick to condemn those who suggest positive action such as requiring people to get out of the house to go to the post office/benefits office once a fortnight. They will present it as a negative whereas for many going to the post office/benefits office is a highlight of their week/fortnight. It will be difficult to promot that as a non-patronising approach unless the person so doing is able to demonstrate personal experience of this & convince their audience accordingly. I don't know anyone at the heart of UKIP who has had that kind of experience - I'd be interested to hear about that.

27-07-2006, 10:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	I live in a small village where a lot of elderly people do not drive and do not have a bank account. We are set to lose our post office, and probably the shop with it, because most people still drive into the towns and shop there. They have already taken away the ability to buy the TV licence in the PO. The post office is their lifeline, they draw their pensions and do their shopping, meet friendly faces. Most would like to continue doing this, but the Government have decreed it is not to be.

27-07-2006, 08:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
extra ordinary Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: south east Posts: 196	the post office shutdowns are an outrage. I think UKIP shouId be bold and offer up radical policies that will include a revitalised post office network, offering the full range of benefit collections, road tax, postal services etc. there cannot be a country in the world that chooses to attack this vital resource. what is Blairs Britain doing to us !!

30-07-2006, 10:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
brian pearson Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: nottinghanshire Posts: 753	Totally unfair to expect people to miss Jeremy Kyle just to go and pick up their free money.