State Pension - Cash Payments

[fiction-factory]

My uncle who msust be aged at least 90 has always refused to have his pension paid into the bank. He still gets paid in cash at the Post Office. He travels there by minicab/bus to draw his pension. Then he walks or gets a cab half a mile to the bank in Stratford town centre and pays some into his bank to cover some bills and then gets a taxi or bus home. Seems like madness I know but it gives him some social interaction and something to look forward to to fill a day - he is happy, and the cab drivers like it too.
But for the last 6-8 weeks he has been housebound and is likely to be so for another month or so. As a result he has run out of cash and his bank account is about to go overdrawn so he has asked if a friend could collect his outstanding pension for him but the friend says it can't be done.
We have checked online (Gov.uk., pensioner sites) and there seems to be no mention made now at all of the possibility of cash pension payments. All sites say the options are bank transfer, PO card account or in exceptional circumstances a cheque. No mention is made of cash so we can't see anything about how to allow someone else to pick up the cash. People have suggested again getting pension paid into his bank but he just won't even consider it as he doesn't trust them.
Does anyone know someone who still gets their pension paid as cash over the counter? Has anyone else had a similar issue and found a solution please?

[Rockrose]

Is it a local post office that he goes too? Do they know him well enough that he could ring them?

[dannyk13]

//he just won't even consider it as he doesn't trust them. //
Don't understand this as you say that he has a bank account.

[Rosetta]

Could he phone his post office and ask their advice. If I remember correctly it used to be possible for someone else to collect the pension provided the pension book was signed by the pensioner, though only for a limited number of weeks.

[fiction-factory]

Don't think it's a local one- think it's in the town as it takes him half an hour by bus and is fairly close to his bank. I was thinking of driving over and taking him in to the post office to ask but to be honest I can't really face it as i'd need a wheelchair and need to take the friend in too with all sorts of ID, but maybe it's worth a try. I just wondered whether there was a form he could fill in at home. I'm worried that if his elderly friend also gets ill I'll end driving over regularly at some expense to draw his cash out for him.

[fiction-factory]

Agreed danny. I don't get it either. He doesn't like anyone knowing his business. He is certain the pension people would have access to his bank if he is paid by transfer and will ask questions about whether he really needs his state pension if he has some left over. Getting him to pay other bills by DD has been a real issue. I think he still pays some bills at the Post Office.

[dannyk13]

If he becomes housebound at some stage I think he is going to have to bite the bullet and have it paid into his bank account.

[fiction-factory]

Thanks Rosetta. Think I'll take him in to ask as he seems unable to sort things out himself. It's good to know some others still get paid by cash. Hope I don't get this stubborn at 90

[woofgang]

I think that a few years ago the cash collection option was removed for new pensioners but people who were already in the system were allowed to continue.

[Rosetta]

ff, if you need to borrow a wheelchair either Red Cross or St Johns Ambulance may be able to help

[Old_Geezer]

Not madness, purely personal choice. Probably likes to actually possess his own money and pay bills from that, which is sensible as one gets a good idea of how one is spending and how much/how fast.

Hope you find a solution. Seems a sad situation if a trusted representative won't be acceptable.

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure why the friend would be an authority.
The post office staff should know your uncle, I'd ask them what they'd find acceptable.

[woofgang]

OG, because the Post Office have no idea if the person drawing is a trusted rep or any old person. When I worked in the NHS and we were getting people ready to go home, we used to come accross this problem with people who needed cash in the era of pension books. We got over it by documenting it in the patient notes and getting the patient to sign it and then by two members of staff doing the whole transaction. It was actually easier for us if the person had a pension book as there was no issue with knowing a person's pin.

[silliemillie]

Does he get it from the PO with a card and PIN number?

If so I think anyone who has these can get it out, I do it for my Mum all the time.

[woofgang]

as I understancd it millie, the card and pin setup requires having an account at the post office which is what this gentleman is so against

[dannyk13]

Woofie. He has a bank account.

[whiskeryron]

If you can, get an interview with his bank manager & explain the situation

[fiction-factory]

He says he just gets cash as he always has. He doesn't seem to know anything about PO card accounts. I am going to have to take him in teh week after next and see how it's done now and what the options are. I know POs are open on Saturday mornings but would they deal with pensions or are there set days depending on NI number. I'd hate us to get there to be told to come back another time.

[Flonska]

Have a look at this link:-

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/looking-after-people/managing-affairs-for-someone-else/#h-different-ways-of-managing-someone-s-affairs

It explains ways that your uncle can authorise someone to manage his affairs - see Third Party Mandate and Agent/Appointee.

He/you may also wish to consider - in the long term - a Power of Attorney but for the time being the two methods above may suffice.

[fiction-factory]

Thanks. Will look at those. POA has been mentioned but he is suspicious again unfortunately, but friend and I will try again

[andres]

He should have a Post Office card. We still have one pension paid at the post office . You have a card with a pin number just like any other card. All I do is put the card in and put the relevant number in. The machine is there on the counter in front of the cashier. I know several housebound people use this method and get other people to draw the money. Just let the post-master know and you should be able to draw the money for him.