Post offices to pay two weeks' social welfare benefit to customers

A further range of measures designed to assist customers in managing post office visits while maintaining access to cash has been unveiled this afternoon by An Post. 

The move comes after DEASP announced that welfare benefit payments in post offices will be brought forward and paid on a double (two-week) basis to reduce the need for customers to leave home during the COVID-19 crisis. This will enable customers or those nominated to collect payments on their behalf to maintain social distancing and plan shopping and household budgeting over a two-week period.

Commencing Monday 23rd March, the payment of Social Welfare in Post Offices will be brought forward by a week resulting in the payment of two weeks’ Social Welfare Benefit. The timing of the payment will be dictated by the customer’s particular scheme or benefit type.

For those schemes/benefits where the payment is not brought forward next week, these payments will be brought forward for double payment during the week commencing 30th March.

Post Offices are also implementing upgraded social distancing measures including earlier opening hours on traditional pension payments days, enhanced security and distancing measures in post offices and the extension of the ‘Temporary Agent’ facility for customers. Further protections for customers will be introduced in the coming days.