This article in yesterday's INews shows a Jobcentre adviser ordering a 56-year-old jobseeker to purchase a smartphone for his job search because his basic model was "not good enough". Even the Department for Work and Pensions spokesman in a statement said there was no requirement for Universal Credit claimants to own a mobile phone, but this one adviser had said this.
I agree because I don't like smartphones myself, I too own only a basic mobile which can call and text, also having a calculator and alarm clock. I see people so glued to smartphones to the extent of seeming to be oblivious to everything else, and 24/7 connectivity is being thought to be detrimental to mental health.
Just corrected this article as it had been renumbered. Found a follow-up here:
ReplyDeletehttps://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/universal-credit-smartphone-dwp-jobcentre-comment-199086