Dear LPG,

Even if you haven’t heard the recent news broadcasts, a trip to the shops or a recent utility bill will have alerted most of us to the price rises that are more than evident and, as a pensioner with not a lot of extra cash in my pocket, I was really encouraged to receive a letter recently which informed me that Lewisham council was offering households who receive housing benefit or council tax reduction some help by way of a Tesco e-voucher to help with food costs.

The news was truly refreshing, but when I read the rest of the letter I was completely confused.  The problem is that the only way to access this gift is via the internet and I have no idea when it comes to computers.  The letter also offered some information about where to get help, but the only way to get to that help is also via the internet.  

My niece will be able to do what was necessary for me but, when I mentioned it to my neighbour she told me that she had also received the letter which left her with the same reactions.  The difference is that she does not know anyone who she would want to bother by asking them to follow the online instructions. The letter offers no phone number or person that you can contact and there is a time limit for getting this bit of financial help.

With a bit of phoning around my niece and I found out that, because of the limited amount of money allotted for the council to get these vouchers to those that need them, they have decided that the internet is their most efficient way to get the job done.  The help has already been offered to younger people who know about these things but, like me, I think that there will be some older people involved who are sent a letter, but are also quite likely to have no idea about what they need to do.

The letter states the time limit for applying and offers the internet as the only way that you can do anything about this, so can I appeal to those pensioners who are IT savvy, or that know someone who is to arrange the necessary online assistance for their friends and neighbours with this Tesco E-gift card offer; essentially those who are not able to take advantage of this offer, because they will surely miss out without some help.

CJ, Sydenham