Changes to benefit payments a boost for Mayo post offices

New measures are to require people in receipt of employment benefits to turn up at a post office to receive their payments.

The move "shows a government commitment to the An Post network", according to Minister Heather Humphreys.

The Minister for Social Protection and Rural & Community Development said: “The future of the post office network has been under threat due to the rapid decline in social welfare payments, which are the core business of the network.

“Following a motion tabled at the Fine Gael parliamentary party to put government services through the network, I made the decision to bring employment benefits back to post offices."

However, it is understood the requirement to attend a post office to receive the payment is also being put in place in a bid to cut down on alleged welfare fraud.

The changes also include a linking of the payments to a person's income prior to becoming unemployed, rather than all receiving a flat rate payment.