Medway Matters:

Generations are left to struggle

Published 8th November 2013

If I want a loan, I can make a phone call and have the money within a short time. If I need help from a government department, such as attendance allowance or the new Personal Indepepenence Payments (PIPs) for disability, there is a massive form to fill in. Reasonably educated people are having trouble understanding what is wanted and for those with poor literacy skills or mental health problems, they are a nightmare. Several charities which previously helped with these applications are no longer able to afford to do so because they can take two or three hours to complete. Is the government saving money at the expense of the most vulnerable in society because they simply cannot cope with the paperwork? Some departments, like pension credits, do everything on the phone and also connect with housing benefits - two birds with one stone and a minimum of fuss. Landline phones are now a costlier option than mobiles - the NHS could save a fortune in postage by texting people with their appointments rather than using secreatarial time and high postage costs for letters. Why on earth can't all government departments work more efficiently?

Remembrance Sunday is here and quite rightly we remember those who gave their lives to make this country free and prosperous. What about the dependents they left behind?

Poor standards of home care, private residential care and hospital care seem to be the norm, and we forget that most of these frail elderly people suffered loss and privation not only during the war but for the many years of austerity which followed. The current working generation seems to have money for expensive electronic gadgets for themselves and their children, and costly fancy dress costumes off the peg for every occasion, while a forgotten generation struggles with poverty and poor health.