Thousands of social welfare recipients are set to be impacted by big changes to how they receive their payments from next month.
The Minister for Social Protection announced on Wednesday that jobseeker's payments will return to post offices on a phased basis as a result of the easing of Covid restrictions.
New applicants to the benefits scheme will be impacted first, with existing claimants to get their payments from post offices in the coming months.
The "exceptional measure" implemented at the outset of the pandemic for social welfare recipients to receive their money straight into their bank accounts will be phased out in the next few months.
Heather Humphreys, the Social Protection Minister, said that returning jobseekers payments to post offices will lead to additional footfall while it will also help to tackle fraud.
She said on Wednesday: “I’m acutely conscious of the challenges that are facing the Post Office network.
“That’s why I’m delighted to announce the return of jobseeker payments to post offices, reflecting the arrangements that were in place pre-pandemic.
“This is a measure that I know the Irish Postmasters Union and An Post have been calling for."
In explaining how the changes will work, she said: “The requirement to physically visit your local post office in order to collect your jobseeker payment will apply initially to new claims, beginning next month.
“But over the coming months, my Department will work to extend this requirement to other jobseeker claims.
“I’m also conscious that as Minister for Rural and Community Development, we need to do all we can to support our post offices in Rural Ireland, as per our commitment under the Government’s rural development policy ‘Our Rural Future’.
“This measure will increase the footfall in our post offices in communities across the country – sending a clear signal of Government’s commitment to supporting the network as a whole.”
Minister Humphreys said there has been reports of people claiming jobseekers while not living in Ireland.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, she said: “There are instances but the majority of people who get social welfare payments deserve it and deserve that support and I want to be very clear on that.
“But there are those who are trying to commit fraud in the system and that’s wrong.
“We have a special investigation unit and we continue to follow up on reports we get from the public and employers and also work very closely with the gardai and there have been quite a number of people caught claiming the benefits and we continue to pursue them and get the money back.”
Minister Humphreys has said there is an inter-departmental group working with postmasters on examining other options and services that people can avail of if their local post office has closed.
A report on the matter is due to come before the Government shortly, she said.
For those who are immunocompromised and may want to avoid crowded settings due to Covid-19, Minister Humphreys advised them to contact the office of social protection and officials will offer help.
Debbie Byrne, the Managing Director of An Post, said: “An Post welcomes this announcement which puts the post office back at the centre of the Jobseeker payment system.
"This is a perfect example of the practical benefit of using the post office network in the provision of Government services to local communities. It also offers a welcome return to normality for Postmasters and post office customers.
“We look forward to the publication of the Interdepartmental Working Group and to working with Government to maximise the use of the network to benefit customers and the communities we serve.”
