Department With Problems

I just went to fill in some forms for the DWP using the online service.  Turns out if you’re using anything more recent than Windows XP, you’re out of luck.  If you’re using ’98 though, you can fill out all the forms you could want.

How frustrating that is I can’t quite describe.  You try to do things in the most efficient, low cost, instant way to benefit both you and the administration, and because you happen to be up to date at your end, you can’t go any further.  Does having a disability mean you should be years behind the times with your technology?  For many of us, technology is the means by which we manage our lives.

I had to rack up some debt to get a new laptop just last week because without the Internet my life would be beholden to others to get me around and do virtually everything for me.  I prefer to do everything for me virtually.  My banking, my shopping, my access to information, keeping up to date with friends and family – all done online because I can’t get around like I used to.  So why would people in the same situation not have up to date systems to help them make the most of what’s available?  It looks like the government thinks that because I can’t keep up with the average walking pace, I also can’t keep up with technology.

I’ve downloaded an editable (40 page plus 18 pages of notes) PDF and filled it all in, however I need a statement from ‘someone who knows me’ in a relevant capacity so I need to print the thing out, sign it, get other signatures, and to do that I’ll have to trek around in taxis (vertigo and public transport not being compatible).  I don’t have a printer, or at least no ink, so either spend a fortune on cartridges and paper for this one document or get someone else to print it – more delays – before I can even complete the form.  I’m not sure that’s entirely preferable to getting them to send out a form, wait for it to go through the system and then through the second class mail (because they only use second class unless they’re demanding money).  At least the download version is legible and automatically fits text to fields.  This ongoing argument with my right hand might have prompted them to send it back and tell me to type it anyway!  I’ll fill it all in and then I’ll make the more than a mile round trip on foot to post it back.  They do know what these forms are for, right?

Is it not hard enough for people to accept that life has come to this without all these added frustrations?  I’m entitled to some help to deal with the costs of having to get taxis and use delivery services.  I’m still paying tax and contributions, so why should I feel like it makes me a lesser member of society to get some of that back?  It shouldn’t, but it does.  I paid in, things went wrong.  I need a return on my investment, but because so many people play the system I have to jump through hoops (thankfully not literally although that might be amusing for onlookers) to get it and I also become one of those people that society grumbles about.  Not the absolute top of the hit list – I work and want to work until I absolutely can’t – but I’m up there with the fakers and cheats because disability is the favourite scam among scammers.  I’ve never so much as pinched a sweet off the pick n mix counter, I have such a crucifying conscience, and now I’m going to feel like I’m stealing just because of the attitudes I know I’ll meet.

So when I try to sort it all out in the quietest, most unobtrusive way and I’m knocked back because the government got stuck at 2007, I could scream.  It won’t make a blind bit of difference who I speak to or what letters I write (by email to save the hike to the post office), there’ll be no updates and no doubt the explanation will be costs.  How about I volunteer to fix your damn website and you sort out my claim as a thank you?  I figured it out though - DWP – Doesn’t Want Progress, Does Want Paperwork.