 Campaigners are concerned about the electronic payments system |
A new system being introduced to pay benefits will make it difficult for blind and partially-sighted people to access their money, claim campaigners. The Huddersfield Society for the Blind say plans to do away with payment books and bring in an electronic system will make it almost impossible for people with sight difficulties to withdraw cash from the local Post Offices.
From April people who claim benefits and pensions will be expected to use a swipe card and put a PIN number into an electronic keypad to access money which is currently paid over the counter on production of a payment book.
The only other option is to have the money paid into a bank account, which the campaigners say will also cause difficulties for claimants who have to travel to their nearest branch.
A spokesman for the Post Office said: "We accept that the PIN pads we have installed in branches to enable people to withdraw their pensions, child benefit and other benefits in cash are not suitable for all our customers.
And he continued: "We apologise for the concern this has caused them. We are going to address these concerns and will be working with the RNIB in particular to make improvements."
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