We have been discussing digital exclusion this month and the impact the digitalisation of services is having on society.
The transition to digital services is not limited to the banking sector, with health service providers including general practitioners’ surgeries showing an increasing reliance on digital technology.
Whereas electronic prescriptions and apps for booking GP appointments may be convenient for many in younger generations, there are considerable numbers of older who struggle to use this technology – or may not have the smartphone needed to access it.
Similarly, some older people may find having to use a mobile phone to pay for public parking difficult and unintuitive. With public transport provision in decline across much of the UK, unaccommodating apps may see older people further alienated from their communities.
There are also concerns that service providers – including local authorities – are failing to deliver on their promises of providing offline alternatives to digital-first services. Research by LocalGov has found that a third of London borough councils only accept online applications for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, whilst a quarter only allow online applications for Blue Badges.
We call for:
The UK Government and the devolved administrations to combat digital technology’srole in social exclusion, poverty and access to services by maintaining long-term access to cash and free cash withdrawal services, and providing increased support for banks, businesses and service providers to develop more accessible tools as we move into a digital world.
Later Life Ambitions
Later Life Ambitions brings together the collective voices of over a quarter of a million pensioners through the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners, the Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance, and the National Association of Retired Police Officers Association.
We aim to encourage today’s decision makers to confront the challenges of tomorrow.
