Brighton and Hove Council's new computer system to handle housing benefit is obviously experiencing some serious problems.
I recently re-applied for benefit. I correctly filled in all the necessary forms and took them down to the Brighton Town Hall, along with all the required paperwork relating to my claim. My claim was processed and a payment awarded. So far, so good.
Several days later, I received three letters in the same post, each stating different amounts payable. In one letter it stated a different figure in each paragraph. When I questioned this in person at the Town Hall I was informed it was correct.
By now I was totally confused. I went to the Brighton Housing Trust which managed to sort out all the computer problems within 24 hours.
Although this is a nationwide problem, I feel if the Government insists in implementing these new systems, it should at least run the old with the new until any bugs are discovered and rectified.
Before I became ill I was involved in installing and commissioning computer systems and would never dream of placing all important services on a completely new system before ensuring it could actually do what it was designed for.
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