February 4 saw the first of two workshops held in Whitland to guide senior citizens with the phasing out of the Post Office card account.
In 2003 the card account replaced the pension book which was the method of payment for pension and benefits, this became a weekly habit and social interaction for many.
The Post Office card account will be closing next year this is due to the contract Post Office has with DWP to provide the card account will expire.
Therefore customers need to find alternative methods of payment, many customers already have a bank account, for them the transition will be simple for others this will mean that they will need to open a bank account.
Post Office has an agreement with most banks which means customers will still be able to continue to use the Post Office for their cash withdrawals.
Current Whitland Mayor and sub-postmaster Clr. Barry Chapman recognised the hurdles and obstacles that some people may face with this situation: No bank account; unwillingness to change; phobia of form filling; confusion and more importantly no access to banks that over the years have disappeared from the high street of towns and villages.
Over the last few months, and with the support and backing of Whitland Town Council, The Clerk to the Council, the Pension Service, Post Office Ltd, and both Barclays and Natwest Banks, Clr. Chapman organised these workshops, and set about raising awareness of how they could help not just individuals but also family members.
The campaign also gained the support of local MP Simon Hart whose office wrote directly to over 400 people of state pension age in the Whitland area advising of the workshops.
Throughout the day the various staff present were able to advise residents not only on how to fill in the forms but also offer advice face to face to residents whose circumstances may have recently changed in recent times.
They were able to provide information to relatives on matters such as Power of Attorney and third party access.
Sonia Lowe – Team Leader for Pensions Services based in Swansea said after the event: “Collaborative working with external partners is key to supporting our most vulnerable customers in the community.
“This event enabled my staff to communicate in person with our customers especially those whose first language is Welsh”. It was also pleasing to receive positive verbal feedback from those customers who attended the event as their fears were allayed”.
Regional Manager Ryan Leonard remarked: “I am looking forward to the next event, as I only had positive feedback from customers during the first one.
“It was fantastic that our customers were able to speak to the Post Office, the DWP and other agents all under one roof.
MP?Simon Hart commented: “Sorting out finances and pensions can be a daunting prospect for many people so this was a fantastic and thoughtful project which deserves recognition and support”
Sarah Eynon Postmaster for Whitland and Maenclochog praised the event as “a huge success and was encouraged that so many local residents attended and benefitted from the advice and support offered on the day.”
Clr. Chapman said: “Dealing with people on a day to basis I appreciate how this change might have affected people.
“This event proved that by providing help and support from the right people we were able to considerably reduce the stress and worry that this significant change could have caused.
“We were able to reassure people that they can still come in and withdraw their money weekly or monthly with us over the counter in the Post Office, they can still pop in for their chat.
“Hopefully those that attended will go home, and let people know how painless the process was and encourage others to come along to the next session in a month’s time.
“Feedback gathered from those who attended the Town Hall event was nothing but positive,” he added.
The next workshop will take place on Tuesday, March 3 between 10 am and 2 pm and is open to not just Whitland residents but also anyone from the neighbouring towns and area who might benefit from this help.