“The people who benefit from the postal assignment service are elderly, disabled, isolated, often affected by the digital divide or far from banking and postal services”explains the socialist. “I am sounding the alarm because I am very worried about this very vulnerable population, who do not always have the capacity to earn money independently or who have difficulty getting around.”
Risk of precariousness
The elimination of this service would leave beneficiaries in a precarious situation, warns the federal minister. An alternative solution that has been proposed is to use circular checks, a check sent by post that the beneficiary must then exchange at a counter or post office for the cash owed to them. But this system erases the whole point of home delivery.
“If these people resort to postal summons, it is precisely because offices are often inaccessible for them. These measures endanger the most vulnerable people”continues Karine Lalieux, who points out that this service is 100% legal.
The number of beneficiaries of assignments has gradually decreased since 2018, but new requests are emerging, especially among young disabled adults (18-21 years old). For the outgoing minister, this justifies maintaining the conditions to extend this system.
Dialogue of the deaf at the federal level
It appears here that the decision to no longer use summons was taken by the FPS Finance, but without consultation with the administrations concerned (Social Security and Pensions). The Federal Office for the Elderly and the Higher Council for People with Disabilities were also not consulted. However, these two authorities consider that this cash delivery system must be maintained.
“The two administrations wrote to the FPS Finances explaining why this service had to be maintained. And it was an end of refusal, a dialogue of the deaf.”
Merger with bpost bank: the end of daily operations in walk-in branches for BNP Paribas Fortis customers
When she became aware of this situation in November, Karine Lalieux contacted the office of the Minister of Finance, Vincent Van Peteghem (CD&V). No response. The minister requested an IKW (an inter-cabinet meeting). No response. “Absolutely nothing happened. This is why a letter will now be sent to the two competent ministers, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of the Civil Service, Petra De Sutter (Groen), to demand guarantees for these vulnerable people.”
The socialist demands that we give “this residual mission of managing State accounts at Bpost”. This could be included in its management contract which will be modified in 2026.
