To think its completely outrageous for the govt to not include internet access as a necessity on the voucher programme when

[MadameDefarge]

they are now demanding all benefit applications and correspondence has to be online? I think it is disgusting. Its pushing already marginalised and often vulnerable people beyond the edge. In our Borough over 20% of folk do not have internet access. These people are generally the poor, the foreign, those with MH issues. Is this just another step to ensure the poorest most vulnerable members of society have no voice or access to services?

If they are forced to do everything online then they should have some training imo There is! And it is FREE!!!!!!!!! Ugh.

You can do it all on your smartphone according to twobras.

For the person who asked about people who can't write, there are various charities who help people who are functionally illiterate with benefits forms. Other people will ask a friend to help. That is why there is a separate box on benefit forms for the signature of the person who filled in the form. Making everyone fill in forms online will simply increase the pressure on charities as it will increase the number of people who incapable of completing the form without support.

As for smart phones, I'm not entirely sure what one is. If it is a phone that lets you browse the Internet, I know very few people who have one.

I don't think it is acceptable for people to walk ten miles round trip, possibly with children, often in poor weather conditions to fill in a form which could be done at home with a pen. It is just a further strain on services like libraries and making life difficult for people.

two bras has only recently arrived in this country. I suggest we leave her alone to acclimatise and become familiar with our benefits system.

You can do it all on your smartphone according to twobras. You know what? Why don't you do it for them or even better, offer them use of your internet connection?

That is as opposed to giving free internet access, as that would not help those groups mentioned in the OP to access benefits. The benefit system is complex and there are different forms of funding available to some groups, who need specialised help, such as immigrants and those with disabilities.

two bras has only recently arrived in this country. I suggest we leave her alone to acclimatise and become familiar with our benefits system. Eh no. You have missed the point. I am British, but have just moved to Australia, not the other way around.....I could understand how you got confused though. Apologies.

Laquitar we get a surprising amount of people - often elderly - coming to use the Internet to respond to things such as "you've won the Spanish lottery" or "hello I'm a member of the Nigerian royal family" etc... it is very sad. :(

Two, I do "do it" for people unable to, via my work, paid and unpaid, that is how I know the issues spoken about on this thread are real.

Two, I do "do it" for people unable to, via my work, paid and unpaid, that is how I know the issues spoken about on this thread are real.

I can just imagine Camoron and his flunky, Osborne, watching the 'stupid unemployed people' walking 5 miles to get to the library to apply for jobs to find that the Tories have shut it.

They seem to get some sort of sick pleasure out of making the lives of people who are already on the breadline, worse.

This shows the desperation at the moment.

4000 people queued up in a village to try and get a job at a shopping centre.

4000.

That's a little village in Hampshire. I checked the Population Data and there are just 1968 people of working age living in Whitely.

That means that 2000 people traveled into Whiteley from further away to seek a job there. A village with one road in and out.

Birds Very good of you. But I have no way of knowing if that is true, sorry.

' If you live that far out then move!'

and how do you pay for that?

Wasn't there a scheme a while back for some claimants to have free laptops? My sisters friend had one ( though she sold it on Ebay ) but yes, definitely had a free laptop.

I don't know what the answer is. None of us do. It's just a shit situation going by what lougle just posted.

and how do you pay for that?

You save what pennies you have, hire a van for £50 and move. That is how. Can nobody save these days - even £2 a week???

god I wish there were an eye rolling emoticon. right are we generally of the opinion that leaving multiaccess routes open to benefit claiments means that you should be able to spend a social loan on internet access at your own discretion?

There are schemes and there has been schemes for free computers and laptops, the person had to pay the insurance and it didn't work out very well, so was scrapped. That was at a time when there was better provision for people to access advice, before the change in Government and "the cuts".

There are schemes and there has been schemes for free computers and laptops, the person had to pay the insurance and it didn't work out very well, so was scrapped. That was at a time when there was better provision for people to access advice, before the change in Government and "the cuts".

Add message | Report | Message poster TwoBrasDontMakeABodice Thu 28-Mar-13 17:08:41
You can do it all on your smartphone according to twobras. You know what? Why don't you do it for them or even better, offer them use of your internet connection?

What is that? Is it finally an acceptance that this might actually be really challenging for some vulnerable people wrapped up, without any grace whatsoever , in a bit of a sneer at the idea that it might bother some who count themselves lucky to be unaffected?

Where do you magic this £50 from? If you only have £2 left a month that would take half a year to save up and then, of course, you'd need to save up about a grand for a deposit on a rental, so a further 20 years for that.... and on it goes.

And I wish there were a 'stop being PA' emoticon.

How would your idea work Madame? They could have internet access, but only for certain sites? A suggestion - hurrah!

Jesus, TwoBras every post makes you sound just a little bit denser... £50 to move house. No other expenses involved obviously. And what about those of us who own their houses? Shall we 'just move' too?