A leading citizens advice group has praised a new scheme to simplify online housing benefit applications in the north-east.
Aberdeenshire Council has opened a terminal in its Banff office for claimants to fill in their online forms.
The move is part of the local authority’s drive to scrap all paper forms in the run up to the introduction of universal credit.
Last night Citizens Advice Scotland cautiously backed the moved.
A spokesman said: “Citizens Advice Bureaus across the country are reporting that many benefit claimants are really struggling to access benefits online.
“Many don’t have access, and others don’t have the skills to use the internet.
“In a survey just this summer 27% of Scottish CAB clients told us they had difficulty using the internet. So we welcome any efforts to help those people.”
The spokesman added: “However, we still feel that people in general should be able to choose how they make applications.”
Members of the council benefits team will be on hand at the Town House council office in Banff to help people fill out their electronic forms.
There are now more than 50 different forms covering 15 services, including Discretionary Housing Payments and Social Welfare Fund.
Benefits manager Susan Donald said: “Many people are put off filling in forms online either because they have no experience of the internet, or they do not trust the technology.
“We hope the new computer in our Banff office together with the help from our team will help address their concerns.”
Initially people will only be able to use the new service for council tax reductions and housing benefit. However in the future other claims may be introduced.