Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Moray charities get online for welfare changes

L-R: Keith Cancer Link, Rosemary Pannell, Councillor Ron Shepherd, Councillor Stewart Cree and Adeline Reid.
L-R: Keith Cancer Link, Rosemary Pannell, Councillor Ron Shepherd, Councillor Stewart Cree and Adeline Reid.

Community groups across Moray have been given computer equipment so members can access online advice on welfare changes.

Forres Area Community Trust, Moray Step By Step, disability charity Reach Out and Keith Cancer Link have all benefited from the Moray Council scheme.

The local authority is launching an internet site to advise people on important changes to the benefits system affecting those claiming disability benefit, housing benefit, jobseeker’s allowance and tax credits.

Moray Council’s Rosemary Pannell said: “The authority is seeing enormous changes in welfare benefits and the new systems mean people will have to do much more online than was the case previously.

“At Moray Council, we’ve been working on a campaign which will encourage people to seek help and information from local groups.

“It’s due to launch in March and as part of the campaign we’ve been equipping the local organisations so they’re ready to assist.”

Chairman of Keith Cancer Link Adeline Reid said: “We received a wireless printer, and as far as I’m concerned the welfare network is a goldmine of information.

“Our group is about 30 to 40 people and I will keep them all up to date by printing off information for them.

“It will be a great boon to us.”

The changes to the welfare state are said to be the biggest since its introduction in 1940.

They will affect the way people have to claim as well as the benefits themselves.

Under the shakeup jobseeker’s allowance and housing benefit will merge into universal credit, and disability living allowance will be replaced with personal independence payments.