While we’re on the subject of Universal Credit:
Readers of this site will know I’ve regularly uploaded stories about people with learning and literacy difficulties, and other access issues, who are not able to use computers. It’s an issue noted by many. I’m working on another example of such a situation for a Universal Credit applicant at the moment.
The fact is that people in these situations will be utterly excluded from Universal Credit without support to apply and to manage their accounts.
Support is difficult to find – and can be almost impossible to find in some parts of the country (I know this, because I’ve tried). Planned jobcentre closures around the country will exclude people with access issues even further.
Perhaps Mr Gauke can expand on his plans there.
Hi, Kate
By coincidence in my inbox today, I’ve had e-mail from an American-based software company that lets me know for the first time — with the aid of Internet search — that Equifax has been subjected to cyberattack that could affect 44 million Britons. The Telegraph reports:
” Equifax hack: 44 million Britons’ personal details feared stolen in major US data breach ” while Bloomberg reports: In the corridors and break rooms of Equifax Inc.’s giant Atlanta headquarters, employees used to joke that their enormously successful credit reporting company was just one hack away from bankruptcy.
Against such a backdrop, the DWP’s choice of making applying for Universal Credit an online only affair could probably only have been achieved by way of a complicit State Broadcasting corporation’s non-reporting of the real risks involved to service users while those who had a choice of some sort would be less inclined to challenge the unfairnesses of it all.
Had this Government said at the outset that all state pensioners will have to register online for their state pension — probably a natural extension of the logic behind Universal Credit anyway, though much more sneaky — perhaps those with an inkling of awareness about cybersecurity issues and how cybercrime is largely driven by potential profits, would have objected in the strongest possible terms?
In other words, a government that brings in an online only stem is not so much interested in protecting service users/claimants from procedural problems as they are interested in minimising resistance to their plans, whatever the eventual cost to the country.
They are using technology against us to create a virtual prison and for the time being we have little choice but to comply, but when it comes to having the microchip implant in the forehead that’s when I’ll choose to starve….or maybe get beheaded for disobeying the Beast.
“Had this Government said at the outset that all state pensioners will have to register online for their state pension”…………like I had to do. My SP started in April 2015. Fortunately I’m computer literate however I have aphasia (consequence of stroke) and cannot use the telephone.
I don’t have internet at home, apart from on my phone, which is 4 or 5 yrs old & keeps going on the blink, but even when my phone is working sort of right it’s still slow & pretty hopeless for doing jobsearch. The computers in my Jobcentre don’t work properly, are unbelievably slow & keep crashing constantly. The computers in the central Library are only available for one hour sessions & are often all in use. The computers in my local community library are only available for 30 minute sessions, but can be extended to one hour if they are not busy, but there are only 5 computers available and the library is earmarked for closure quite soon. If, then, I get put on to Universal Credit & am therefore mandated to spend 35 hoursper week, every week, doing jobsearch, how can I possibly comply? And I at least DO know how to use a computer, but access is severely limited. I know others who are only very basically computer literate, just about know how to get on to UJM but don’t know how to access their emails for instance, or how to copy&paste for example. I’m thinking of two guys I know inparticular, both too old to have used computers when at school, both have previously done manual labour, one in a stone quarry for many years, the other tarmaccing roads. There are loads of people who have never had to use computers before, now expected to be able to email CVs & register with online recruiters etc. & switch between tabs when they previously thought tabs were cigarettes. These are guys who never got any O levels at school, have never read a book in their lives & never been a member of a library. They don’t even own smart phones. But they can show you how to work out the odds in a Round Robin!
Tis true AND libraries have been shut down as well. Maybe Gauke has a few laptops he’d like to loan out. Theresa May’s PC should be free soon…
We regularly employ people with learning and literacy difficulties. Our Waltham Cross branch is full of them, including the manager. We allow them to employ Gestapo tactics and any resistance is met by bullying letters from the Government Legal Department
Given Labour’s change of direction under Corbynism, maybe Labour-controlled local authorities could hold referrenda for Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance claimants as to whether they, as service users, think Universal Credit is a good idea for that area?
Ha ha excellent idea 🙂 I’d love to see that.