Glasgow beggars will be given benefits help to provide route off the streets

Glasgow beggars will be given the chance to complete the online-only Universal Credit sign-up thanks to the city council’s new roving digital inclusion officer.

The new role will see a council worker roam the city streets alongside homelessness charity Simon Community’s street team with a tablet computer to make benefits applications, opening bank accounts and securing forms of identification more accessible.

The measures are part of the council’s City Centre Begging Strategy and come ahead of Universal Credit’s roll-out in Glasgow next month.

Benefits Boost to Help People Begging in Glasgow City Centre https://t.co/z9lY39ZRyV pic.twitter.com/9lcf7navHB

— Glasgow City Council (@GlasgowCC) August 30, 2018

However, the controversial benefits system has had a troubled introduction in other areas, with the Trussell Trust revealing that Universal Credit had driven up foodbank use by more than 50 per cent in some places earlier this year.

Regardless, it is hoped that providing access to the system for those previously excluded will provide an alternative to begging that will enable those on the streets to improve their engagement with support services.

Councillor Allan Casey, chair of Glasgow’s City Centre Begging Strategy Group, said: “The benefits system can be complicated and confusing – especially if you have a chaotic lifestyle and no access to technology or broadband.

“The application process can be daunting, but this new digital inclusion post will take financial and digital support directly to the most vulnerable to help ensure no-one is missing out on the benefits they are entitled to.”

The role is still to be filled but will work out of Glasgow’s new multi-agency city centre hub for homeless people which is due to open in early 2019.

We're supporting people off the streets. Tackling poverty of income, hope and ambition are at the heart of our approach #streetteam https://t.co/Quvnek2v5Z

— Simon Community Scotland (@SimonCommScot) August 30, 2018

The hub will be available to use as a correspondence address and will also enable access to online DWP accounts.

Robin Wallace, assistant director of Simon Community Scotland, added: “This type of assistance is exceptionally important for people living on the margins of society. It will ensure people who need help the most, receive it.

“Our experience within the Street Team recognises that people can spend a large amount of time engaged in street begging, and less time engaging in support and connecting with staff and services, therefore it is imperative that we take this service to them.”