MSE News: Fears raised over digital benefits system

puddy

the issue about the payment being made to one person in the household, that happens now doesnt it?

i agree that the people that need face to face help will be disadvantaged because the very systems that should be in place to help people are being cut back

in addition, libraries are being shut all over the place

i would also worry about issues around security and fraud, how are things verified over the internet. this will surely involve people needing scanners to input their passport and birth cert etc?

im-lost

sniggings wrote: »

managing to make a wage last a month is a lot different to making a benefit last a month.

I get £240 a month (without HB) no other income, all bills, water etc need to come out of that, I know I need to keep it or I will have nothing left but it is hardly enough to last the month if I were to use it 100% correctly, atm getting it every two weeks leaves me with no money for 2-3 days at the end of the 2 weeks, getting the money monthly will leave me with no money for a full week.

The reason the government has given for the change is because it will make people see working is the better option, this rubbish about helping us understand how to budget is a load of rubbish, as the government don't give a toss if a working person can budget and it also assumes that everyone on JSA is thick and has never held a job.

simple answer.. learn to budget better..

Just because you are paid monthly doesn't mean you have to spend it all in the first 3 weeks. ad go without for a 'full week'

How is getting the money monthly any different to getting it twice a month?

Use half as you would normally for the first 2 weeks and the rest for the following 2. Its not rocket science.

The_ICT_Engineer

challfour wrote: »

And what damage do you forsee?

i can't see any possibility of that happening.

I do, Have you forgotten the RBS/Natwest mess, And the utter chaos that it resulted in.

The systems are not being developed in this country, supporting British jobs, But overseas and one of the major companies involved in this project were behind the RBS/Natwest foulup. Iam still waiting for a reply from my MP as to where IT systems are to be based and if not in this country, why not..

lovinituk

mazza111 wrote: »

As for the comment "Do it for them!" Have u tried doing anything for a very independent elderly person?

Yes and with success. If you explain exactly why you are doing it for them and what the alternatives or consequences are if they don't let you help them, they usually see sense and agree. Treat them like adults and it works wonders!

IF they don't want your help with Universal Credits then we have already established that they will still be able to use the phone instead of the internet.

So its still no big deal!

BigAunty

The fears about a minority of people not having physical access to an online environment or not having the knowledge to operate a PC are valid but aren't going to stop benefit claims from going online (like JSA, driver licence changes and many local councils services already are).

The govt aren't going to wait for the non-PC generation to die off before it brings in more online services. It will expect people to adapt.

BigAunty

mazza111 wrote: »

I agree the elderly will be the main ones to suffer through this. Sorry, not having a go at the silver surfers out there, I know there are plenty of you, but mention internet to my old mam, and you'll get an earful about it being full of pervs and evil beings ..

My ma is a silver surfer who had to be shouted at to stop using her laptop as a coaster for her mugs of tea. She must have read an article about cookies as she's convinced they are the reason why her anti-virus software has expired, her passwords have been locked and her PC won't boot up....It's all down to cookies, apparently....And she can't or won't punctuate her emails - for some reason she can write paragraphs on paper but not on her PC, hasn't got the hang of where the carriage return and full stop is on her keyboard.

50Twuncle

"8.5 million people who have never used the internet and a further 14.5 million who have virtually no ICT skills."

This appears to miss THOSE WITH ICT SKILLS BUT NO COMPUTERS/INTERNET ACCESS !!

50Twuncle

Does this mean that WTC will at last be contactable by email ?
What do you think .....................

sniggings

21Twinkle wrote: »

Does this mean that WTC will at last be contactable by email ?
What do you think .....................

My guess it will be more along the lines of "ask Jane a question" virtual assistant type things, type in "my money has not been paid today" and you get the answer "yes you are correct today is Tuesday" :rotfl:

Charityworker

MissPiggy50 wrote: »

Do you mind, Im a a single mum and have a iphone and can use it for the interweb!!:mad:

I think you've got the wrong end of my stick. The comment I commented about seemed to be saying that only single parents are on benefits and they all have iPhones and laptops so it should be ok.

I would never have a go at single parents, I was one for 9 years.