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POST OFFICE RESPONSE - Further to our enquiry from Brian who asked: I am a little bit confused as to whether my state pension will be available at any Post Office using the card system in the future. I am 87 years old and have got used to the PO system. Can you advise, please, whether the present system will come to an end for us old citizens? Best regards. Keep safe. Wear the mask.

Our suggestion is that Brian does a Freedom of Infomation request.

By email

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By post

Freedom of Information requests
Department for Work and Pensions
Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA
United Kingdom

The Post Office response: 

Hi Simon, thank you for your email to the Post Office and apologies for the delay in coming back to you. In summary, the Post Office Card Account are a product owned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and which we enable their customers to withdraw their benefits in cash at our branches. So can I advise, if you haven’t already, to contact the DWP directly.

In terms of a Post Office response to your enquiry, I trust the statement below is of some help.

A Post Office spokesperson said:

“The decision to end the Post Office Card Account is one that has been taken by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The account is one that we provide on behalf of the DWP for their customers.

“Post Office has an important role to play in supporting these individuals. Our agreement with over 30 banks and building societies means that customers with their current accounts can withdraw and deposit cash at the Post Office, deposit cheques and check their balance all over the counter with a friendly Postmaster and their staff.

“We have also created a leaflet that can be handed out to Post Office Card Account customers which has some helpful information about how they can switch to a current account. We have just launched a trial of this leaflet in 1,000 branches and will be evaluating how helpful the leaflet has been for customers before rolling out more widely across our network.”

ABC Note: Brian can send an email to the DWP marked FREEDOM of INFORMATION REQUEST and he should get a reply within a calendar month. If he does not, he should ask his or her Member of Parliament to intervene. Organisations can argue they need more time to identify who you are, and this is a net little way they can avoid a response that should be immediate or within a calendar month. However, your MP should get a result, that is if you can afford to wait for him or her to respond. 

ABC Comment, Have your say below:

Happy Christmas to all those at the Post Office, we know you will be very busy:

The Post Office Leaflet:

EXTRA FUNDING - A new £16 million government grant, delivered across England through charity FareShare, will allow thousands local charities across England to distribute food to people struggling as a result of the pandemic, Food Minister Victoria Prentis has announced.

The Defra Winter Support programme forms part of the wider Government winter support package and will help those who are vulnerable and disproportionately impacted by Covid-19 to access healthy and nutritious food through front-line charities throughout the winter, starting this week.

At least 4,000 frontline charities, not-for-profit organisations and community groups in England will benefit, including refuges, homeless shelters and rehabilitation services. It will cover rural areas as well as cities, targeting those who are struggling to get food. The programme aims to provide over 7,600 tonnes of food over the winter months.

FareShare have well-established, extensive networks for funding local charities and delivering food, which means they can swiftly ensure adequate support is provided when and where it is needed, as quickly as possible.

Food Minister Victoria Prentis said:

During this difficult winter period, our frontline charities are providing vital support to the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Alongside the wider Government support package, this grant will make a real difference to people across England. It will enable FareShare and their partner organisations to provide millions of meals for those who need them most.

Lindsay Boswell, CEO, FareShare said:

The FareShare network has been running a full time operation throughout the Covid 19 crisis, to get food to our most vulnerable communities. In England alone we have delivered food equivalent to over 57 million meals since March 23rd. We welcome the Government’s further financial support on behalf of the 4000 plus charities we provide food to in England, who in turn created over 3 million meals a week to help their clients at the height of the first lockdown. Both through this winter, and through the undoubtedly tough economic conditions set to impact the country this coming year, it is vital that we all work together to get help to those most in need.

The Government has recently announced a comprehensive package of additional support for vulnerable children and families during the winter period and beyond, which includes the £170m Covid Winter Grant Scheme as well as this grant.

As part of this wider package, ring-fenced funding will be given directly to Local Authorities to support their communities and covers a broader range of needs. At least 80% is earmarked to support with food, energy and water bills, and will cover the period to the end of March. Local Authorities will receive the funding in early December.

The government continues to urge people to support family, friends and neighbours by helping with shopping for food and other supplies. Information on how to help safely can be found on gov.uk/safehelp. Those who meet the criteria for support from the NHS Volunteer Responders programme can refer themselves or a family member by calling 08081963646.

Local councils may also be able to offer support and give advice to those who do not have friends and family nearby to help. You can find your local authority by visiting https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.

Those who are well and able to get to the shops are also encouraged to do so, leaving online delivery slots for those who need them most. If you are clinically extremely vulnerable, you will be able to register for additional support online. If you were on the supermarket priority list for food delivery slots before 31 July 2020, you’ll remain on the list.

The full package of Government winter support continues up until Easter 2021 and the Government will continue to monitor the situation and will make decisions on funding accordingly.

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LIVE GIG - From the David Lynch Foundation - Just 2 Days to Go!

Meditate America – A Free Virtual Celebration and Benefit Concert

Mark your calendar—On December 3 at 7pm ET, you’ll be attending the exciting launch of “Meditate America”—a virtual benefit celebration and concert to bring the stress-reducing benefits of Meditation to millions of adults and children under trauma and toxic stress throughout the country. The celebration is hosted by the David Lynch Foundation and the U.S. TM Organisation.

The Free Benefit Concert will feature:

• Sting singing "Fragile" and "One World Is Enough" with Angelique Kidjo
• Graham Nash singing "Our House" with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus
• Elvis Costello singing "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?" with Larkin Poe
• Kesha and Jim James singing Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released"
• Katy Perry talking about how meditation has changed her life

The event will be co-hosted by Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, as well as ABC’s Good Morning America co-anchors Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Jennifer Ashton, M.D., and feature the presentation by David Lynch of the Peace on Earth Award to Dr. Tony Nader.

Please share on Social Media and invite your Family and Friends—they can register by clicking below:

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POST OFFICE SERVICES - Via our comments section Brian asks: 

 I am a little bit confused as to whether my state pension will be available at any Post Office using the card system in the future. I am 87 years old and have got used to the PO system. Can you advise, please, whether the present system will come to an end for us old citizens? Best regards. Keep safe. Wear the mask.

We are seeking an answer for Brian, but things are slow going at the moment. Good question from Brian, however, a lot of people use the Post Office to access services. Lets us come back on this if we can; ASAP. 

Another interesting comment comes from Paul.

Case Managers at Basildon now have around 1450 cases each.

Basildon that Paul refers to, is a DWP Benefit Delivery Center. Research has shown in sales as an example that an average salesman can manage 450 prospects. Once you get higher than that figure people get neglected. Of course, customer relationship management systems make things easier, but there are still only so many hours in the day. The DWP reduced their headcount, 19,000 odd people post-pandemic from memory and they closed 10% of their offices. The DWP has had to hastily recruit and train an army of work coaches to cope. 

Nine thousand new Work Coaches across the UK by the end of March 2021 are being recruited. Alas, there's not a lot of work going to be about by March the way that large firms are collapsing such as Debenhams today. 

ABC Note: We have been in contact with the Post Office media team and we should be back with an answer shortly as soon as we contact the inderviduals working on this issue. 

Image: UK Post Offices familiar branding.

Some Post Office news regarding ATM machines:

The Post Office has announced a £16 million investment that will see it own and operate around 1,400 free to use cash ATMs and become a member of the LINK network.

The Post Office ATMs are currently owned and operated by the Bank of Ireland. Towards the end of 2021 the first ATM will be migrated to the Post Office estate, with all ATMs transferring by the end of March 2022. A subsequent ATM replacement programme will be undertaken, so that all ATMs are replaced with new devices that have the latest cash dispensing technology and security measures. This programme should be completed by mid-2023. Post Office will also become a member of the LINK ATM network.

• £16 million investment over four years sees Post Office own and operate around 1,400 free to use ATMs across UK.
• One of the largest investment programmes in the ATM market by any organisation or company for over a decade and significant demonstration of Post Office’s commitment to ensuring anyone who wants cash can get it whichever way is most convenient, including over the counter.
• Post Office ATMs will be amongst the most modern in the market with latest cash dispensing and security technology by mid-2023.
• Post Office retains almost 60 ATMs where nearest alternative free to use ATM is a significant distance away.

ABC Comment, have your say below:

US BENEFITS UPLIFIT - Announced in October, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 1.3 percent in 2021, the Social Security Administration announced. 

The 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2021. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2020. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA (Cost Of Living Ajustment) to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ABC NOTE: A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is an increase in Social Security benefits to counteract inflation. Inflation is measured using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W). Automatic yearly COLAs began in 1975. The COLA for 2020 is 1.6%; for 2021 it is 1.3%

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $142,800 from $137,700.

Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount. Most people who receive Social Security payments will be able to view their COLA notice online through their personal my Social Security account. People may create or access their my Social Security account online at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Information about Medicare changes for 2021, when announced, will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, Social Security will not be able to compute their new benefit amount until after the Medicare premium amounts for 2021 are announced. Final 2021 benefit amounts will be communicated to beneficiaries in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security's Message Center.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

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FEEDING AMERICA - Millions of children and families living in America face hunger and food insecurity every day according to Feeding America.

Due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 50 million people may experience food insecurity in 2020, including a potential 17 million children.

According to the USDA's (United States Department of Agriculture) latest Household Food Insecurity in the United States report, more than 35 million people in the United States struggled with hunger in 2019. 

In 2018, 14.3 million American households were food insecure with limited or uncertain access to enough food.

Households with children are more likely to experience food insecurity. Before the coronavirus pandemic, more than 10 million children live in food-insecure households.

Every community in the country is home to families who struggle with food insecurity including rural and suburban communities.

Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and need to rely on their local food banks and other hunger relief organizations for support.

Over 80 percent of food banks in the Feeding America network continue to serve more neighbours during the COVID-19 pandemic yet are accustomed to this new level of demand, working tirelessly to keep inventory of food and resources high. This is according to the most recent survey by Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief and food rescue organization.

Ninety-one percent of food banks in the Feeding America network responded to a survey between Nov. 9 through Nov. 19 to identify critical gaps in funds, food, volunteers, and distribution. Food banks have consistently seen a 60 percent increase in demand compared to this time last year and continue to require more food and resources to provide to people in need. 

According to the USDA,more than 35 million people, including nearly 11 million children, lived in food insecure households before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a recent Feeding America analysis found that number could rise to more than 50 million people, including 17 million children, by the end of 2020. With the help of monetary contributions to Feeding America and critical partnerships with donors in the supply chain, the Feeding America network has distributed 4.2 billion meals to this growing number of neighbours facing hunger. 

With 11.1 million people in America still unemployed, many are turning to the food banks for the first time. Previous food bank surveys revealed that an estimated 40 percent of people seeking assistance from food banks had never needed help before. 

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PERSONAL FINANCE - NerdWallet, formerly Know Your Money, has been named best comparison website of 2020 at the Personal Finance Awards 2020. 

The comparison website received the award at the virtual 23^rd annual Personal Finance Awards on Wednesday, following 20 weeks of consumer voting. 
 
Norwich-based Know Your Money was founded in 2004. It was acquired by NerdWallet INC., the US financial website, in September this year and has since rebranded as NerdWallet.
 
Over the previous 16 years, the comparison site has built a strong catalogue of personal finance offerings, enabling users to compare a wide range of lending, insurance and business products. 
 
The business has gained a strong reputation within the tech industry. In 2019, the company was listed among Deloitte’s fastest growing tech companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and it was included in The Sunday Times Tech Track 100 list in 2017.
 
John Ellmore, UK director of NerdWallet, said: “2020 has been a hugely challenging year when it comes to people’s finances. As such, demand for guidance, advice and comparison tools has never been higher. 
 
“We’re delighted NerdWallet has been able to help so many people make informed financial decisions throughout this period. And this award is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated team, which continues to grow and develop even greater expertise. 
 
“We are constantly looking for new ways to enhance our offering and empower users to make better financial decisions. Now under our new NerdWallet title, we look forward to continuing on this mission in the year ahead.”

Image: NerdWallet.

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BENEFITS UPLIFT - Benefit rates will rise by just 0.5 per cent next year in what critics have described as a “deeply disappointing” and “pitiful” inflation-driven uplift.

The Department for Work and Pensions did not say whether the £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift would last beyond April 2021 but said it would “continue to assess how best to support low-income families”.

Dr. William Bird MBE, Intelligent Health Ltd ‘Mental ill health is the single largest cause of disability in the UK, with the annual economic cost in England estimated at £105.3 billion each year through costs of services, lost productivity, and reduced quality of life’,

The stress of this uncertainty could bring on a wave of mental health issues. Landlords were already discriminating again tenants on Universal Credit and removing this £20-a-week Universal Credit could start a wave of evictions. It could well lead to civil unrest as happened with the 1990 poll tax riots. 

Extending the credit would cost £6billion, which in the great scheme of things is not a huge amount of money. 

ABC Note: The ABC is, along with many charities, lobbing the Chancellor Rishi Sunak.  

FOOD INSECURITY - Food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK network saw a shocking 47% increase in need during the crisis, building on record need experienced during the same period last year.

The charity warns these figures are the tip of the iceberg, as many people will have been helped by other community groups.

Welcome steps have been taken by the UK government, but longer-term action is needed, and the Trussell Trust is calling for people to join the campaign to build a Hunger Free Future.

New figures released today reveal 2,600 emergency food parcels were provided for children every day on average by food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network during the first six months of the pandemic. 

More than 1.2 million emergency food parcels were given to people struggling to afford essentials by food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK-wide network between 1st April and 30th September 2020, making it the busiest ever half-year period for food banks; over 470,000 of these parcels went to children.  

While the figures highlight the level of need across the UK, the charity warns their new figures do not include the number of people helped by the countless new community organisations, independent food banks and local authorities, which have stepped up during the pandemic to support their communities. 

Meanwhile IFAN the Independent Food Banks Network report that Scotland’s independent food banks report at least doubling in need for emergency food parcels compared to last year’s April to July figures.

Across all of the UK independent food banks have seen a 177% increase in the number of emergency food parcels distributed.

Some facts from the Trussell Trust:

• Between 1st April 2020 and 30st September 2020, food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK-wide network provided 1,239,399 emergency parcels to people in crisis. 470,854 of these parcels went to children. 
• These parcels were distributed by over 1,350 distribution centres operating in 295 local authority areas in the UK.  
• This is a 47% increase on the same period last year, when 843,655 emergency supplies were provided to people in crisis. 309,090 of these supplies went to children. 
• During this period in 2020, on average 2,573 emergency parcels were distributed to children every day.  
• The top three reasons for someone being referred to a food bank in the Trussell Trust’s network during April to September were low income (47%), benefit delays (9%) and sickness/ill-health (6%)  
• ‘Emergency food parcel’: this typically is a three-day parcel containing emergency food for one person. During the crisis food banks have also been distributing seven-day parcels. For this release the Trussell Trust have simply combined both three-day and seven-day parcels together to report the total number of emergency food parcels that were distributed. 
• The increase in the total volume of food given out to support people therefore outstrips the number of parcels distributed. In comparison to the same period in 2019 there was a 59 per cent increase in the total weight of food distributed 
• These statistics are a measure of volume rather than unique individuals.  
• Trussell Trust figures cannot be used to fully explain the scale of food bank use across the UK, because figures relate to food banks in the network and not to the hundreds of independent food banks. Research from the Independent Food Aid Network shows there are at least 946 independent food banks, with many other organisations also distributing emergency food during the pandemic.  
• Redundancies increased by a record 181,000 between Q2 2020 and Q3 2020, a 138% increase. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopl

ABC Note: The Trussell Trust have launched a hunger free future campaign. This campaign’s aim is to build a movement of people to work together and achieve the ultimate goal of a future where people have enough money to buy essentials. This Christmas, more people than ever will need to use a food bank. This can’t go on! The past few weeks have shown that so many of us care about hunger in the UK. It’s time to end the injustice of people needing food banks.

Want to get involved in a movement that’s about building a hunger free future?

Sign up to join the campaign here: 

Spread the word using #hungerfreefuture on social media. 

ABC Comments, have your say below:

ONS STATISTICS - yes it is horrible which is what you were expecting

Commenting on today’s labour market data, ONS Deputy National Statistician for Economic Statistics Jonathan Athow said:

"The latest monthly tax numbers show over three-quarters of a million fewer employees on the payroll in October than in March.

“Unemployment grew sharply in the three months to September, with many of those who lost their jobs earlier in the pandemic beginning to look for work again. The number of redundancies has also reached a record high.

“Vacancies continued to recover from the very low numbers seen earlier in the year. However, these figures predate the reintroduction of restrictions in many parts of the UK.”

For the three months ending September 2020, the highest employment rate estimate in the UK was in the South East (78.3%) and the lowest was in Northern Ireland (70.5%).

For the three months ending September 2020, the highest unemployment rate estimate in the UK was in the North East (6.7%) and the lowest was in Northern Ireland (3.6%).

For the three months ending September 2020, the highest economic inactivity rate estimate in the UK was in Northern Ireland (26.8%) and the lowest was in the South East (18.1%).

Between June and September 2020, workforce jobs decreased in all regions of the UK, with the largest decrease in London at 104,000 and the smallest in Northern Ireland at 1,000.

In September 2020, the region with the highest estimated proportion of workforce jobs in the services sector was London at 92.0%, while the East Midlands had the highest proportion of jobs in the production sector at 13.1%.

The highest average estimated actual weekly hours worked, for the 12 months ending June 2020, was in London at 31.7 hours and the lowest was in the North East at 28.4 hours; for full-time workers, it was highest in London at 35.9 hours, and for part-time workers it was highest in Northern Ireland at 15.5 hours.

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