Universal Credit Info Accessed Via Smartphones And Social Media
Smart TVs, smartphone apps and social media have all been used to access information about the Universal Credit (UC) scheme, according to new research.
As the new benefit – which combines six payments into one – continues to rollout across the country, more than 100,000 pages of information have been accessed via non-traditional IT devices such as laptops and PCs.
The figures also reveal that since UC was launched in October 2013, information about the scheme receives around 15,000 hits per month.
UC information is available via interactive TV for Sky and Virgin customers, Facebook, more than 50 smartphone apps and the national My Council app.
Digital content provider Looking Local released the figures, adding that the widening access to UC content is proving popular with claimants and claiming this is boosting digital skills.
Looking Local And DWP Partnership
Looking Local has partnered with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to bring a range of digital information channels that aim to give millions of people without home Internet access the support needed to find information about the new benefit.
Besides this, the partnered organisations are also attempting to use technology to remind people of their responsibilities to search for work and provide them with the tools they need to search for jobs on the move.
“Already we know that over 90% of claims to UC are made online in our pathfinder areas and it is essential that we give the public as much choice as possible over how they find out information about the new benefit,” claimed Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform.
“We have created a benefit that’s fit for the 21st century. It is great to see people are already accessing UC information when they are on the move, using their smartphone, or at home on their TVs and games consoles,” he added.
Only Public Sector Games Console App
Looking Local is also responsible for delivering the only public sector service interface for a games console – it designed a UC information access point for Nintendo Wii users.
Popular pages accessed included the benefit eligibility checker, claimant journey information and details about preparing for UC.
Besides this, the organisation claims that is has enabled over 360,000 job searches via the Universal Jobmatch system.
© 24N.biz
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