Changes to benefit payments announced

New measures are to require people in receipt of employment benefits to turn up at a Post Office to receive their payments.

The move "shows a government commitment to the An Post network", according to Minister Heather Humphreys.

The Minister for Social Protection and Rural and Community Development said: “The future of the Post Office network has been under threat due to the rapid decline in social welfare payments, which are the core business of the network.

“Following a motion tabled at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party to put government services through the network, I made the decision to bring employment benefits back to Post Offices."

However, it is understood the requirement to attend a Post Office to receive the payment is also being put in place in a bid to cut down on alleged welfare fraud.

The changes also include a linking of the payments to a person's income prior to becoming unemployed, rather than all receiving a flat rate payment.