§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to ensure that frail pensioners who have mobility problems are able to receive emergency pension payments during the present dispute.
§ Mr. NewtonPensioners normally paid by order book who cannot get to the post office can ask someone else to collect their emergency pension payments for them. The person who is asked to collect a payment should take evidence of his identity with him when he goes to the post office.
Pensioners normally paid four or 13-weekly by payable order sent through the post need to contact their local social security office to get emergency payments started. They can contact the local office by visit, by telephone, by post or by getting someone else to call there for them. The local office will wish to see the tear-off portion of the last payable order received. Emergency payments will be sent from the local office by Girocheque which can be cashed at a post office or paid into a bank account. Payment will continue from the local office, without further application, whilst the dispute continues.