EXPECTATIONS make this time of the year notoriously expensive for those in work with families to support.

How much more difficult it must be for people who rely on pensions or benefits to meet bills and pay for food.

It is hardly surprising, then, that people who had worked out their budgets on the basis of the Post Office's own public statement that payments due on New Year's Day would be paid on December 29 were upset yesterday.

In Blackburn, many found themselves turned away because the Post Office's own internal instructions said they should not be paid until today.

At midday yesterday the Blackburn branch manager decided to appease angry customers and pay with cash that was in the Post Office.

A spokesperson has now publicly apologised for "some confusion within the organisation" and what has been euphemistically termed "a clash in information."

It is difficult to imagine the genuine trauma this mess up will have caused in some households.

And it does absolutely nothing to help those campaigning against the government's aim of paying all benefits, including pensions, direct into a bank, building society or post office account by April 2005.

While some are fighting to keep cash payments to save offices from closing, the Post Office appears to be shooting itself in the foot.