"Just Say No" - MP Urges Local Pensioners

Pensioners in South Gloucestershire have started to receive letters this week telling them that their pension book is to be scrapped. But Northavon MP Steve Webb is urging local pensioners who want to keep their pension book to refuse to comply with the Department of Work and Pensions.

Instead the MP, who is running a “save our pension books” campaign, is encouraging people to write back to the DWP saying that they are happy with their pension books and want to keep them.

The DWP letters tell pensioners that in the future they will be able to have their pension in one of three ways - paid into an existing bank account, paid into a new “basic” bank account, or via a Post Office Card Account accessed via a plastic card and PIN number. Under the DWP’s plans, keeping the pension book is not an option. Local postmasters are known to be angry about the letters which are likely to lead many people to think that they have to supply bank details. This will mean fewer customers for post offices and many small struggling offices may be forced to close.

Steve Webb said:

“The key issue here is one of choice. Many older pensioners in particular are perfectly happy with their pension book and a visit to the Post Office. Why should they be forced to change? It is vital that people do not accept this change as inevitable. If only one or two people makes a fuss, the Government will probably trample all over them. But if
hundreds or thousands object, they may be forced to think again.

I hope that every pensioner who receives one of these letters and who wants to keep their pension book will simply write back saying they refuse to participate. This will send the clearest possible signal that people should not be forced against their will to give up their pension books”.

For more on the "Save Our Pension Book" campaign, click here.