Post Office: People could be expecting too much from benefits

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Post Office: People could be expecting too much from benefits

Fri 28th Nov 2008

The Post Office has said that a lack of awareness about unemployment benefits could leave many people seriously struggling financially if they lost their job.

According to the Post Office's research, nearly half the UK population is concerned about losing their job and 40 per cent have less than one month's salary saved up.

The Post Office found that on average people would need around £300 per week to support themselves, but 75 per cent were unaware of their benefit entitlements.

Duncan Caesar-Gordon, the Post Office's head of protection, said: "The number of people who are willing to rely on benefits without knowing what they would be entitled to receive is of great concern."

The research found that 96 per cent of homeowners thought wrongly that they would receive help paying the mortgage if they had been unemployed for less than nine months.

On Monday Alistair Darling unveiled a range of measures aimed at preventing banks from rapidly repossessing people's houses.

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