Collecting a pension for a deceased person

[ReformedCharacter]

An article in today's Independent has created some amusement for me this morning. According to the Irish Times:

According to local reports, a man entered a post office in Co Carlow on Friday morning and tried to collect a pension on behalf of another man. After being told the man would have to be present for pension payment to be claimed, he reportedly left and two people later returned with a man in his 60s, who appeared to be propped up.

The Irish Times reports the body of the man was left at the scene after the two men fled when a woman reported suspicions.

Carlow mayor Ken Murnane said the local community is absolutely shocked by the reports. “The whole town is in shock that anyone could actually think of doing something like that, it’s unbelievable,”

RC

[UncleEbenezer]

An Irishman, an Accomplice and a Cadaver walked into a post office ...

Not that it sounds entirely plausible in these days of electronic payments and disability rights, not to mention self-isolation.

[Boots]

I'm led to believe by someone in the business that claiming pensions on behalf of a deceased family member (not generally with the body present) is not that uncommon.

In one country where literacy levels were low, so a thumb print was acceptable in lieu of a signature, father's pickled thumb was kept in a jar for the annual declaration.

[terminal7]

Hopefully the cadaver was wearing a mask.

T7

[UncleEbenezer]

Hopefully the cadaver was wearing a mask.

T7

Ah. That'll be why he stopped breathing.

[didds]

very "Waking Ned Devine"

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166396/

[monabri]

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/man-who- ... d-12524286

"Man who took uncle to post office 'didn't realise he'd died'

"He was walking like normal and then I reckon he died," says the nephew of a man whose body was taken into a post office in Carlow, Ireland."

"We were grand like then all of a sudden he started going all slumpy," he said.

"We thought nothing of it because Peadar had had heart attacks and all."