PLANS to scrap pension books have angered elderly residents who see the new scheme as inconvenient and unsafe.

The Department for Work and Pensions is replacing benefit books with a scheme where cash is paid directly into a bank or building society account or into a newly created post office account accessed by a smart card and pin number.

Residents at Himbleton House sheltered accommodation on Himbleton Road, Worcester, said they were wary about the principle of handing out their pin numbers so other people could withdraw money for them.

But they stressed they had no specific concerns about their carers.

All preferred signing their pension book and have one of the carers withdraw the money for them.

Florence Ching, aged 90, said there was much opposition to the scheme.

"We'll be out with our banners," she said.

"I'd rather it stay as it is," agreed Nancy Dixon, aged 88. "Old people don't like change, me included."

Leonard Mann said he was concerned about safety because pensioners would have trouble remembering the pin number.

"I wouldn't want it paid into the bank because you'd have to go to St John's but the post office is just down the road," said Mr Mann, aged 86.

Charities have also criticised the scheme saying many pensioners do not have the same carer every week and would have to hand over their smart card and pin number to different people.

Angela Webber, of Age Concern Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "The point of introducing this new system, we are told, is to cut down on incidents of fraud, but if people are giving their card and pin number to lots of different people, there could potentially be a problem still."

Ken Crump, of the Worcester and district branch of the Alzheimer's Society, said pensioners might be tempted to write down their pin number and carry it with the card, sparking all sorts of security issues.

"For someone with dementia, collecting their pension themselves from the post office is a very important part of their life because it's something they have control over.

"This talk of having a pin number is ridiculous. As usual, the Government is thinking about saving money and is giving no consideration to these people who have this problem."

Government's View

SIMON Ballinger, a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions, admitted that pensioners who have a variety of carers, or casual agents, collecting money on their behalf was not ideal.

"This arrangement is wide-open to fraud and abuse," said Mr Ballinger.

"We would hope that as many older people as possible, if they are not confident about having a smart card, opt to have it paid into a basic account or bank account. With a post office card account they can nominate someone to collect their money for them every week.

"We are not taking anyone's books off them until they are confident about having their benefits paid to them."