Londoners get online benefits

A London borough has started testing the first interactive kiosk system for checking welfare benefits.

Residents of Waltham Forest can now access their social security information using a kiosk in Leytonstone Library. The local council estimates 8,500 locals will gain extra benefits by self-checking their entitlements.

Tony Buckley, council leader, claimed the technology will help to "alleviate poverty for many".

The self-assessment software, called Benefits U, has been designed by Cardiff-based Ferret Information Systems. The service is available in six languages and offers pop-up videos, audio questions and online application forms for all the council's services.

Gareth Morgan, managing director at Ferret, claims the immediacy of the service will make the kiosk popular. "People don't object to spending a long time receiving information but they do not like to spend a long time waiting to receive a service. Also, people tell the truth to computers more than to humans. They see the kiosk as being more objective as it doesn't care if the applicant is black, female or one-legged," he said.

Benefits U is also expected to speed up the process of applying for financial support. "On average, 60 per cent of income support forms are sent back as inaccurate or unreadable. With the kiosk, you can't submit the form until it is complete, and evidence shows people find it easier to fill in a form on screen that on paper," said Morgan.