NOT enough is being done by the Government to help people faced with changes to the way the state pensions are paid, says Richmondshire Citizens' Advice Bureau.

A three-year project to replace pension books and over-the-counter Giro payments with direct payment to bank or post office accounts is almost complete.

From April next year, no traditional pension book payments will be made.

Angie House, manager of the CAB in Richmondshire, said not enough had been done to provide alternatives for people who would struggle with the direct payments system. She urged anyone with problems to contact the CAB.

"Direct payments bring few advantages if you are housebound and rely on a number of different people, such as neighbours or home helps, to collect your pension for you, or if disability prevents you operating a cash machine or pinpad," she said.

People using the cheque payment option would get their pension in the post weekly, by cheque. Cheques could be cashed by anyone at any bank or post office, provided the payee had signed the back, but this option had not been sufficiently publicised by the Government, she said.

"We intend to monitor very closely how direct payments and the cheque payment scheme are working in practice and we will be feeding back our concerns to the government," said Ms House.