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Friday, February 22, 2013

postheadericon Not everyone is on the internet, Iain Duncan Smith | Ian Clark

Making universal credit system online only cut many of the poorest people in the wrong side of the digital divide

In September last year, councilors Iain Duncan Smith warned that his attempt to simplify the benefits system was "unworkable and unfair." With the fear that in a recession time workers part would be forced to seek more hours of work or lose their benefits, there were also serious questions that have been made regarding the introduction of universal credit. Foremost among these problems was the decision to make the system completely based on the Internet. This seems at odds with the intentions of Duncan Smith to help people "escape the trap of profits."

A look at the state of the Internet in the UK highlights the difficulties facing the possibility of using this system. For example, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 5.2 million households do not have access to the Internet (20% of all households in Britain). While some of these homes belong to pensioners, a large proportion of house people of working age who therefore suffer as a result of the proposed changes.

According to the latest quarterly update of the Internet published by the ONS, 6.6% of those earning less than ? 200 per week and 5.5% of those earning between ? 200 - ? 299 per week had never used the Internet. In fact, it is only when the ? 700 - ? 799 mark is reached the figure falls below 1%. When you consider that the north-east of England is the only region with a continental connectivity less than 80%, and is also the region with the highest unemployment rate at 9.1%, it is difficult to see the difficulties resulting from a policy change claims online.

However, the real reasons for the lack of internet access are also essential. The recent Internet access - households and individuals by ONS report shows that while 54% claim that simply did not need 22% claim a lack of skills, 15% of equipment costs and blame access costs 14%. No wonder those at the lower end of the economic ladder cite both a lack of skills and cost barriers to Internet access.


It is difficult to know how widespread this practice is, or how many people were affected, but the penalty for those who are not looking for jobs online is quite unfair, to punish those who do not have Internet access to apply for jobs on other legitimate means. Instead of eliminating the "benefits trap", a review of the system of government benefits is, in fact, creating a trap for thousands of job seekers.



would be, of course, if the infrastructure was in place to provide support. For many public libraries with free internet access has been there. However, with more than 200 public libraries last year closing and being replaced by untrained volunteers trained personnel, although this support was gradually dismantled freely available. In fact, in the north-east, where connectivity is poor and unemployment higher than the national average, Newcastle City Council plans to close 10 public libraries, resulting in communities providing free internet losing support specialized staff.
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