e-Politics

A neighbour stopped her car by the kerb to ask me to explain an sms message on her mobile. The government has informed her that unemployment benefits would be credited to her account. Her question was: “How do they know my number? How do they know my account number?”

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, the government’s ability to please you personally on the eve of an election knows no bounds. My advice to my neighbour was to make hay while the sun shines. It was in sharp contrast to a widow who has been denied her widow’s pension because her husband and she arranged for a separation of acquest before he died.

The Director of Social Services deemed the marriage at an end even though the couple did not separate, did not have a judicial separation and in fact lived happily together until death did them part. The widow was obliged to contest the DSS decision in the appropriate tribunal for several years until she was proved right. The DSS has still not paid her a cent many months later. Perhaps this is the season for her to return to the assault.