New 'episode' for UK Online
- Posted:
- 15:19 19 Jul 2001
The UK Online site is based around "life episodes" designed to help people through key stages in their lives. Officials said the pensions episode provides information for the broadest cross-section of society so far, extending from teenage school-leavers to pensioners.
McCartney said, "We have got to change the mindset in Britain. A lot of people tend to think about their first marriage and first mortgage but they have to think about their pensions as well."
As many as 70% of the UK population could use the life episode, said McCartney.
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Sixty-three-year-old Efua Taylor, development officer for the African-Caribbean Elders, a day centre in Camden, North London, said, "I have been using the site and I think that it is very helpful."
You no longer have to go to the DHSS and be "fobbed off", she added.
UK Online's section for pensions and retirement is divided into four main stages - planning your retirement, approaching retirement, reaching statutory retirement age and being retired.
This is the ninth life episode offered as part of UK online, although Cabinet Office sources suggest that another two are planned for the autumn. Existing life episodes on the site cover events such as getting married, moving home, having a baby and bereavement.
Launched by the prime minister in September 2000, UK Online links more than 1,000 government Web sites. It is part of Tony Blair's plan to make all government services available electronically by 2005.
