UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Saturday 21 April 2012

Mobile phone millions from poorest Britons

This excellent piece in yesterday’s Daily Mirror highlights the hidden costs of the botched changes to universal credit. With no thought as to the practicalities of those who simply don’t have access to the internet – the poor, the disabled, older people – Cameron’s cabinet of millionaires has once again pushed an unnecessary cost burden on those who can least afford it.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/personal-finance/the-40p-a-minute-benefits-helpline-bad-800237

Instead of the human touch and access to local expert advice the Governments' railroaded changes to housing benefits to a call-centre style operation that will cost claimants 40 pence a minute to access from a mobile phone – with the cost of telephone landline installation rocketing and credit ratings checked before they can be fitted, the reality for many claimants will be reliance on mobiles that will place a financial penalty on the poorest claimants. This is a heartless and unnecessary attack on the poor by the rich.

Anna Rose