Posted online: Apr 13th, 2009

By Chris Ashmore
Identity checks are being introduced in Post Offices for people collecting Social Welfare payments.
It’s part of a bidby the Government to clamp down on social welfare spongers.
It is understood that there has been a big increase in the number of people attempting to collect various payments which they are not entitled to.
Welfare Minister Mary Hanafin T.D. says that tighter security checks are necessary as part of the crackdown on those claiming a jobseeker payment but not resident in the state. Donegal Senator Keaveney says that this will be a broader brush and will impact on other fraud within the system that people have been concerned about in Donegal.
Describing how this will work Senator Keaveney explained that: “Notices will be displayed in all post offices throughout the country in the coming weeks advising customers collecting social welfare payments such as Jobseekers, One Parent Family Payment, Back to Work or Child Benefit payments that they must be able to produce a valid photo ID to collect their payment. An Post staff must be satisfied that they are making the correct payment to the right person.