55,000 will see welfare payments delayed as offices shut
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Monday November 23 2009
Tens of thousands of benefits recipients will have their payments delayed this week because of the national strike.
The one-day action by public sector workers tomorrow will shut down all social welfare offices around the country.
Around 35,000 people expecting maternity, illness, jobseekers and supplementary welfare payments into their bank on Wednesday will not be paid until one day later.
Another 20,000 who receive cheques for the same benefits will also be affected, said a Department of Social and Family Affairs spokeswoman.
Those in receipt of disability allowance who are due to collect their payment on Wednesday should not be affected, according to a spokeswoman for the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
Burdens
Claimants paid by a social services card through their post office are also not expected to be affected.
Meanwhile, business leaders Ibec claimed the strike would see those with the most secure jobs and pensions adding to the burdens of the country.
Brendan McGinty, the organisations director of industrial relations, said "It would be better to direct this energy towards developing a plan to protect jobs and get Ireland working again," he said.
"The real casualties of the economic downturn are the many thousands who have lost their jobs."
- Brian Hutton
