Widows and widowers in receipt of one-parent family allowance will lose their payment if they do not collect it within 12 days of its due date. The new arrangement takes effect from Friday.
Changes to the payment method were outlined to the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs by the director general of the department Bernadette Lacey.
She said the new system would involve a swipe card and electronic information transfer at post offices, to replace payment books. The changes would not apply to people who have already opted to be paid by electronic fund transfer. "We would consider that someone who gets a means-tested payment would need it within 12 days."
Senator Sheila Terry said people on low income were entitled to go on holiday, and asked if there was a facility to let the department know in advance. Ms Lacey said if the person informed the department on their return their payment would be reinstated.
