Helping disabled people into employment

[craigmason1971]

hi i do not know about anybody else but when you go to sign on at the jobcentre to sign on to show that you are looking for work you get no help from any of the advisors there on a recent survey just 30% of disabled people are in employment

'See past my disability, give me a job' - BBC News

[carol-ann.bond]

Hi @craigmason1971,

I am one of the online community managers, here at FamilyHub. Thank you for your post and thank you for raising this issue.

You are not alone in your frustrations. Unfortunately, there are less Disability Employment Advisors – people who have a specialist knowledge of disability groups - working in the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) than there used to be, and this has had a negative impact on many people who have a learning disability.

Like you have done, a number of disability organisations have raised the issue and it has now been acknowledged by the DWP. Hopefully we’ll see things improve in the near future.

In the meantime, call our helpline on 0808 808 1111 and one of our advisors can advise you on how you can access support should you need to visit the Job Centre again, and if appropriate, they can put you in touch with our Employment team, who may be able to support you to find work.

If you have other questions, please reply to this post and I’ll do my best to help you.

[Jules62]

Hi Craig, when my son went to the job centre i phoned before he went and informed them that he has a disability. They then made an appointment for him to see a specialist advisor, and I stayed throughout. The help is there, but you may have to ask for it! Good luck.

[sianwhite]

Great tip, thanks @Jules62!

[san_said]

Hi Jules, this is good to here! I hope you’re still active on the forum, because I have questions on how you managed to achieve this.

Unfortunately, we’ve been very unlucky with the JobCentre, being thrown around between departments who say they can’t help. Finally, someone told us that in order to seek help for employment, my brother needs to be claiming disability benefits. Were you told the same?

I would much rather we focus on him getting work instead of claiming benefits, since that money would be more beneficial to an individual who categorically cannot work.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Sanyia

[Jules62]

Hi Sanyia,
You are entitled to the job seekers allowance benefit when you are looking for work, if that’s the benefit they were referring to…it helps with travel costs etc and, for example, the young person may need suitable clothes for job interviews. Regarding other benefits, the system has changed considerably since my son was applying for work. We weren’t told this then. However my understanding is that benefits won’t be automatically given and that as part of the process, it may be a requirement that the young person applies for them.

Sorry I can’t be of more help.