Royal Mail has started publicising a scheme to sell Christmas stamps at last year’s prices to people on benefits.

Customers in receipt of pension credit, employment and support allowance or incapacity benefit will be able to buy 36 first and second class stamps at 2011 prices – 46p and 36p.

Stamp prices increased to 60p and 50p in April.

The scheme will be launched on 6 November but leaflets will be sent to every home in Britain this week explaining who is eligible.

Stephen Agar, Royal Mail’s director of regulated business, said: “Royal Mail is pleased to be introducing this scheme to help our customers, who are on these benefits and facing extremely tight budgets this Christmas, purchase first and second class stamps.”