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 you DEMAND that people engage with a service online then you need to be pretty sure that all those entitled to that service can engage with it. Dont make benefits applications only online. job done!

But you can apply for them in the Job Centre. Go twice a week. Job done! Oh no, bu then they will miss out on free internet.....

IT IS NOT FREE! is it paid for by the business. for their customers.

ok. lets leave that issue now shall we? we shan't agree on it.

The jobcentre is for applying for jobs. Not for processing your benefit applications.

The business pays ONE fee per month for unlimited business access. It is the same if 3 people used it or 3000 people used it.

Please bang harder Madame.

So, Ahem. where were we?

The whole point of this thread was that people needed internet to apply for jobs....!!!!!!! Not benefits!!!!!!

Where are you getting these arguments from?

Upping the minimum wage would just make more people unemployable.
Childcare that is affordable? Who pays for this? Muggins?
Getting rid of zero hours contracts? Will this make employers more or less likely to take new people on?

So, based on this logic, clearly what we should all be doing is:

• reducing the minimum wage to make more people employable
• disregarding the fact that childcare costs make it impossible for many people to work, forcing them onto benefits
• putting everyone on a zero hours contract so that employers can treat everyone however the fuck they like while the people on these contracts can be slagged off for 'not planning', 'not living within their means' and make themselves ineligible for any kind of help because in theory they are employed under a contract while in practice they are earning the square root of fuck all.

Try to see the bigger picture!

Those losers who cannot work out how to get to the library?

Have you read an of the points at all? Libraries are closing left right and centre. There are waiting lists at some libraries for internet access. It's not even very safe to use a public computer (which may well be in view of other people while you are inputting personal and private information) for some things. Some libraries charge for the use of the computer. Some people would have to pay to get public transport to get to the library. Or buy a bike. Or walk for 15 miles in the snow because, hell, if you you did it, it must be fine.

MOST BENEFIT CLAIMANTS WORK. So getting to a library to use their limited computer facilities in order to claim benefits to top up their low wages needs to be done outside of their working hours. When libraries might not even be open. And they get to drag their kids along as well possibly.

I am not saying that all people who are poor should get free internet. What I am saying is that the internet is becoming a necessity these days, and a lack of access to the internet is a marker of deprivation. This needs to be recognised and people might need to be helped to access it. And the government decreeing that a service can only be accessed one particular medium and then not addressing the fact that poverty and deprivation mean that people do not have access to that medium, is fucking stupid.

I refer to to my OP twobras, I specifically stated benefit applications.

If you sit taking up space in a restaurant or pub you can be asked to leave. This is why the tramps sleep outside our local McDonalds during opening times because they are not permitted to sit inside unless they are patrons.

My local library has no toilets. There's also a 2 hour time restriction. I had cause to use the computer there for work once when my laptop broke. It was extremely difficult to get any work done due to interruptions and having to keep an eye on the time.

Just a couple of facts for anyone who has not been outside in the real world.

I think I love you, Easily.

I don't agree with giving everyone free Internet and computers as that would be open to abuse I guess but I don't think it should be totally compulsory to do it online. Tell people to do it online, but have a number to ring if you can't access the Internet.

Have you reread my OP yet Two? perhaps You. Have. Got. The. Wrong. End. Of. The. Stick.

Thank you fuzzpig. Its just common sense to me!

Thank you Madame I get so bloody angry about all this. And I'm actually quite comfortable financially. It's just depressing seeing services cut every single day (work closely with local authority) and people who really are working and want to get on (and daviddickfacecameron would say) just get knocked back down again and again.

Tell people to do it online, but have a number to ring if you can't access the Internet. There is.

So the 'real world' only exists if you are in poverty? What a ridiculous statement. That is not the real world - in 2013!

Congratulations twobras your post of 16:01 is officially the most stupid thing I've ever read on the Internet.

Well done :)

So a troll is someone with a differing opinion? Ok....

Thanks Katie!

So what do you all suggest then? Seriously?

Yes. I deeply resent having to beg for a bit of money to get by when this time last year I had a great business and employed 12 people. I am 50. I have paid tax and national insurance for over 30 years. being stigmatised a feckless and lazy does not help me get back into the job market. Businesses go to wall. Why push individuals to it as well when they can get back on their feet with a bit of help? 90% people of people on JSA get a job within 12 months of claiming. But I would never steal.

A Govt. funded internet accessible only by those earning or claiming X amount of money? It is possible.