MSE News: Fears raised over digital benefits system

Mobeer

There's no requirement to use computers or the internet, just an intention that if possible people should use these rather than other means.

Nice headline, shame the story doesn't match

headcone

monkeytrumpet wrote: »

If free cash is on offer they will find a way! ALL Libarys have internet access there will only be a few with no access.

Bit of an oxymoron there.

But as a moron it kind of suits you.

benefitbaby

Universal Credit has been designed to be digital by default, with claims, change of circs updates and communications direct with DWP by email.

Whereas today we pick up the phone to JCP when we want to ask a question the goal - under UC - will be for most queries to be dealt with on-line in a scenario similar to this forum although private between claimant and JCP adviser.

The DWP have a public sector equality duty to ensure that people who cannot access their 'service' on-line have access in other ways e.g. phone, in writing and face-to-face however IMO they will try to promote the online service as the only route (similar to trying to get a paper claim form for certain benefits now).

Undoubtedly this will lead to increase demand on advice agencies, charities and MP's who are already seeing a huge increase in people seeking benefit help.

lovinituk

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Yeh. I'd like to see someone visit her home, persuade her to let them in, climb through the mountains of clutter, find a power point that isn't falling off, get an internet connection and then, whilst standing up on one foot as there isn't anywhere to sit or stand normally teach my elderly, pretty much housebound, dyslexic mother, partially deaf and going blind, how to use a computer when she only just about uses the standby, volume and channel ± buttons on the remote control.


Genius idea.


And before anyone asks, no, I can't teach her. It's taken thirty years of having remote control televisions to get her to the point of mashing the keypad until it gets loud enough instead of changing channel when it's too quiet. And she has an unfortunate habit of hitting people that she thinks make her feel inadequate.

Or you could just do it for her!!! Jeez - mountain out of a molehill or what?!?

fatbelly

The problems with UC as proposed are many, but the 'digital' aspect is one of the least important, and so the mse article is misleading.

There are more concerns about the single monthly lump sum payment going to 'the head of the household', rent payment not going to landlord, punitive sanctions leading to zero income (for up to three years), benefit cap, difficulty in determining self-employed income...

Even so, the change potentially most dangerous for the government is the one non-disabled benefit excluded from UC - council tax benefit. Forcing UC claimants to pay council tax (albeit not at the full rate) may be the final straw.

Have they forgotten the Poll Tax?

At least people will be able to get help from the CAB's Benefit specialists. Hang on, the LSC is making them all redundant in March.

Tehya

monkeytrumpet wrote: »

If free cash is on offer they will find a way! ALL Libarys have internet access there will only be a few with no access.

Access to library computers is going to get harder and harder though as just in my borough alone the council are currently planning on closing twelve libraries leaving only two open to cover the whole area i.e. several towns, umpteen large estates and several medium & small villages that are quite far out from their nearest towns already.

Some folks who already live quite a distance from a town centre now will probably quite soon have to travel on two or maybe even three buses to get to their nearest library.

stormymonday

I wonder if the new digital systems are going to be quite as
pain free as some on here imagine. In particular it is not just going to be entering your details and making a claim. The intention is that the entitlement is then going to be checked back from the UC system to details of earnings on the HMRC RTI system. For many people in low paid jobs this verification process is going to be dependent on the employers submitting employees particulars to HMRC on time and correctly each time an indivIdual is paid their wages. The smooth operation of this part of the system is by no means guaranteed as it has not yet been tested under full operational load. If it breaks down it won't matter one jot how good or bad your IT skills are or whether you communicate with the DWP online, by phone or face to face. The danger will be that you will not get the credit to which you are entitled.

sniggings

one small problem could have the whole household's money stopped, no housing benefit no JSA no nothing and if you have already been waiting a month for your money, that will cause a lot of problems.

Can paying monthly really save enough money to make this a good choice!

enabledebra

monkeytrumpet wrote: »

Most of the single mums around here seem to have iPhones and laptops anyway so can't see this being a problem.

Ever considered a career as a DWP policy adviser? I think your insight would be invaluable.

flight747

It will NEVER NEVER NEVER going to work, because it easy to get fraud online, remember tax credits use to be online form before they scrap it because of too many fraud. So, I cannot see it will going to work out.

Stupid and silly government!