MSE News: Fears raised over digital benefits system

lovinituk

Charityworker wrote: »

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.

It only seemed that way because thats how you wanted to read it! The comment didn't use the word 'all' anywhere and where the heck does it infer that 'only' single mums are on benefits?!

monkeytrumpet wrote: »

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

And what is actually the problem with that comment which seems like a perfectly acceptable observation anyway?! I know plenty of single mums (half the mums in my sons class are single) and every single one of them has an up-to-date mobile phone and I'm sure most of them have laptops or PC's.

Also virtually all single mums will almost certainly be on some kind of benefits in the form of tax credits and child benefit.

Don't twist comments into something they are not meant to be like so many others do on here.

mazza111

lovinituk wrote: »

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!

I don't see it. My mam doesn't like people knowing her business. It's only recently she's given in and had home helps despite needing them for years. I do her laundry for her on a Monday. Pushing her any further would be ..... nah, not gonna go there.

But how many of the phone lines are going to be cut when they go digital? It's hard enough trying to get through to them these days, I can only imagine it getting worse, those who have top half body problems may have difficulty holding a telephone for that long.

BigAunty - LOVE IT!!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Really gave me a wee giggle, I thank you and your ma!

silv.surfer

What about Councils that are closing their Cash Payment offices - our is in Dec.- You can pay Rent on a Council Card but this doesnt accept Council Tax - at our Council you will have to put Cash in Env. and post into Post Box in Reception.

Many people are wary about putting cash into these Boxes and how do you get any Receipt - Posting it at R.Mail new Post Costs they may as well keep Open - usually a Queue most day -and what proof will you have that the Cash has been put on the correct Account - until you find they have cocked it up and are demanding £100's.

People that have a Debt Past are particularly suspicious and rightly so, and wont have D/Ds

The only alternative I can see is to change to Debit Card if Bank allows and Mob.phone and write Auth Ref on sheet - as I do for Gar. Rent and Council Tax.

seven-day-weekend

sniggings wrote: »

did you read the post you quoted?

it is talking about the risk of fraud being the reason why it won't work, you then go on to give examples of YOU paying the government your taxes, and also say you doubt they will ALLOW the same thing that happened with tax credits, I didn't realise they allowed the fraud to take place!

Making a wage last a month and a benefit of £280 is not the same thing.

The reason given for the change is to make work look more attractive! so this move is clearly only there as a punishment, they know people will have problems making a benefit last a month.

It's still the same amount of money though. I understand that some people will spend it all at once, but they need to learn money management skills really, don't they?

If they were at work they would have to manage their money monthly, in most cases.

seven-day-weekend

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.

Is it not possible to divide the amount of money up into £55 a week and just budget that, in other words just draw out £55 a week? I know it is not a lot of money and I would hate to live on that, but you can still budget what little there is, the same as if it comes weekly.

MABLE

challfour wrote: »

I'm in my mid 60's and never used a computer up until 5 years ago. In fact the nearest I ever went to one of those 'machines' was an electronic calculator.

However, I bought myself a Sony laptop and enrolled at the local college on a 'computer for idiots' course.

I only now email, fill in forms direct on the internet, use Skype as well as shop on line.

For those that have difficulties, the government should fund these short courses.

I now wonder how I managed all of those wasted years.

I for one would find managing my benefits on line easy.

Good to hear something positive coming from the senior generation. I too am in my 60's and do all my affairs on the internet and would not have it any other way.

seven-day-weekend

MABLE wrote: »

Good to hear something positive coming from the senior generation. I too am in my 60's and do all my affairs on the internet and would not have it any other way.

Me too. When I lived in Spain I would have been stuck without online banking!

margaretclare

MABLE wrote: »

Good to hear something positive coming from the senior generation. I too am in my 60's and do all my affairs on the internet and would not have it any other way.

Me too. With the caveat that I dislike the use of the word 'elderly', DH and I would be lost without the internet. While recovering from surgery we've done online grocery shopping. We do online banking. I even buy clothes online. When planning a holiday we research places to stay, get a good deal. In fact, DH and I wouldn't even have got together without computers, that was 1997 and we were both 62. We'd just never have met by any other means.

He belongs to a local 'silver surfers' group which is run under the auspices of the local authority - funds have been made available for a number of years now to extend computer literacy to the older age-groups. He's a volunteer and has in the past gone into people's homes to help them set up. Sometimes these folk have had computer equipment bought for them for Christmas or birthdays and need help in getting to grips with it. One lady in her 90s was in tears when she realised she could actually speak face to face using Skype and a webcam with her descendants in far-flung places, the west of Canada etc. She said it had given her a new lease of life!

Invalidation

Dont worry people !
It will probably be administered by ATOS.


I'll get me coat.

eadieb

Disabled people and long term health problems, are likely to be negatively affected by this change - young or old or in the middle! Physical or mental health or learning disability.

For example, I am currently assisting a 50 year old lady (through my work) who has a mild brain injury and mental health problems. She suffers with extreme anxiety, nervousness and forgetfullness. She keeps going to cashpoints, drawing out cash from her account and then forgetting she has done it. sometimes 4 or 5 times a day she has taken cash out and does not know what she has spent it on. Im trying to get her to set up 2 bank accounts to keep her direct debits separate from her spending account so that she avoids using all her cash too quickly and having direct debits bounce. Im encouraging her to come to the local library to try and get her to use a computer but because of her brain injury she is likely to forget how to use it and she is genuinely extremely fearful of going there.

her disabilities are too low need for her to get any care or help from statutory services in our area. I am funded to help her for up to 9 months but after that she is on her own. her family members in the local area are not of use as they have been implicated in using her money for themselves.

this is just one example of someone who will find the change very difficult as she finds it so hard to ask for help.