Benefit claim renew

luvchocolate

Received a letter today to review my housing benefit claim...I'm 73 and can do basic things online it was very stressful to negotiate the form....I ended up calling the council and a young man talked me through it. 
I'm unable to download documents but fortunately the library did this for me. 

When everything changes again in April it's possible to update on my account which is very straightforward. 

We used to have face to face help but sadly no longer. 

How do people without smart phones or computers manage I'm in retirement flat and many don't use technology...very sad 

Robbie64

The move towards digital by default does leave many people at a disadvantage. Does your council not have an alternative way of submitting a review claim for HB / Council Tax Support as well as obtaining and providing supporting documents? If not, it might be worth approaching your local concilllor to ask for such a service to be provided.

YorksLass

I'm 76 and have just had the opposite problem - no issues with the form itself but they wanted paper copies of supporting evidence.  Seems a bit ironic when practically everything is digital these days - it would have been so much easier if I'd been able to do everything online.  I have a laptop and am computer literate but don't have a smart phone or printer.  Fortunately I'm able to get to the library under my own steam and there's also a stationery/print shop within walking distance.

luvchocolate

YorksLass said:

I'm 76 and have just had the opposite problem - no issues with the form itself but they wanted paper copies of supporting evidence.  Seems a bit ironic when practically everything is digital these days - it would have been so much easier if I'd been able to do everything online.  I have a laptop and am computer literate but don't have a smart phone or printer.  Fortunately I'm able to get to the library under my own steam and there's also a stationery/print shop within walking distance.

The form I got had changed from last year..they wanted documents downloaded before the form...it's the download part I can't do..the young man did talk me through but I get frustrated and stressed when I'm struggling. 
Hopefully they have what they need 

BridgetTheCat

I do all the online stuff for my parents (both mid-80s). Their friends are all the same - younger family members do it for them. We are 400 miles apart so I got them both smartphones which we use to send each other photos etc. Any documents I need I just tell mum to send me a photo of the hard copy and I upload it. She also sends me a shopping list every week and I organise a grocery delivery for them.

Sometimes when they phone I answer as ‘Tech Support’ 🤣🤣

pmduk

Usually, in retirement properties there will be a member of staff available to help with such matters. Age UK cam be very helpful additionally.