Stories

Here are some stories of people with learning disabilities who are better off in work...

Marion and Robin

Marion and Robin are a couple in their 30’s. Marion is at college full time and she gets Incapacity Benefit and the low rate care and mobility components of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Robin currently gets Jobseekers Allowance and the low rate care component of DLA. He has recently been offered a job working 20 hours a week at £6 an hour.  Overall Marion and Robin will be £73.33 better off each week with Robin in paid employment. You can view their story in full here...

Michelle

Michelle is a 25 year old woman. She has learning difficulties and mental health problems and gets the low rate of Disability Living Allowance for both Care and Mobility. Michelle has never had a paid job before but an employment support service helped her to get a  job working in a Nursery. Michelle now works 12 hours and is paid £6.75 an hour. Michelle is able to keep all her previous benefits and gets her wages on top. Michelle is £81.00 better off a week because she works. You can view her story in full here...

Philip

Whilst studying he received Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance. Philip applied for a job at a library. He was successful at the interview and has now started working 18 hours a week. He gets paid £7.50 per hour. He is no longer entitled to Incapacity Benefit but can claim Working Tax Credit. Philip is £93. 96 better off each week now that he is working. You can view his story in full here...

Dougal and Amy

 Dougal and Amy are a couple with two children who receive Income Support as well as Carer’s Allowance, DLA, Child Benefit and Tax Credits. Amy starts working 37 hours per week and claims Working Tax Credit.  Dougal can no longer claim Income Support for them both but they are entitled to their other existing benefits and Amy can claim Working Tax Credit. Dougal and Amy are nearly £149.85 per week better off now that Amy is working. You can view their story in full here...

Kyle

 Kyle is 26 and lives at home with his parents. Whilst in volunteer placements he got Incapacity Benefit and DLA. He registered with the ‘Real Works’ employment project and they matched him up with an employment support worker and together they found a suitable job for him. He is now working 16 hrs a week in a garden centre.  Now he gets wages and Working Tax credits on top of his other benefits. Kyle is more than £164.21 better off each week. You can view his story in full here...