from the Star

Job Centre staff in row over payments by giro

A FURIOUS row has blown up between unions and management in Sheffield JobCentres over new rules for the payment of benefits to claimants.
PCS union members say they are "outraged" at changes which mean benefit payments being suspended for customers who cannot provide bank account or Post Office account details.
They claim staff have been told by bosses to turn down people wanting payments by giro instead. And they allege staff have been threatened they will be "monitored by line managers for compliance". The union says the changes are being used as an excuse to ultimately axe staff.

Department bosses have confirmed giros are being phased out but say they are simply offering "encouragement and advice." But union bosses insist the public still have a legal right to payment by giro if they want.
A PCS spokesperson said: "Senior management in Sheffield have instructed staff to tell customers 'that if they do not have a bank/post office account then a first payment cannot be made as giros are no longer available'. They added 'in future, we only make payments by account'."
The union claimed management insisted that staff do not offer customers the option of being paid by giro and told line managers to monitor employees to make sure they advise people to accept direct payment.
A PCS spokesperson said: "Direct Payment is being used as a means to axe staff at a time when the government has announced its intention to cut jobs and close offices. This is their motivation rather than customer choice. We are opposed to the public being pressganged into Direct Payment."
A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pension confirmed giro payments were no longer an available form of payment in normal circumstances, but could be paid in urgent cases.
He said: "Giro cheques are being phased out."
01 February 2005