IT problem freezes pensions and benefits payments

A
national IT problem prevented people from withdrawing benefits and pensions on
Monday, the Post Office has admitted.

It
said the Card Account computer network crashed between midday and 3.45pm hitting around 200,000
customers.

The new automated account system, which was
introduced last year and pays out pensions and other benefits, is now working
normally.

Post
Office spokesman Jonathan Kinsella
said: "We apologise to our customers for the problem. We would encourage
people to return to their post office this afternoon, where they will now be
able to collect their benefits."

Around
1.7m people are using the new direct payment scheme which can only be used to
receive benefits, state pensions and new tax credit payments. Users can then
take out cash using their cards at Post Office branches.

The
system has crashed once before. On 7 July, the system went down for about one
hour.

By Daniel Thomas

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