“They Don't Understand People With Learning Disabilities”: Exploring the Experiences of People With Intellectual Disabilities Undergoing Welfare Assessments

Background

The Welfare Reform Act (2012) has been criticised for harming claimants, particularly through functional assessments. Although many people with intellectual disabilities in the UK receive welfare benefits, their experiences of undergoing functional assessments are under-researched.

Method

Eight participants with intellectual disabilities were interviewed about experiences of welfare assessment. Transcripts were analysed qualitatively using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results

Analysis suggested five group experiential themes: ‘Living in fear: I was nervous and scared’; ‘The system is marginalising: Other people are better than me’; ‘Relationship with the assessor: His attitude fucking stunk’; ‘Others as a safe base: Someone there that you know, and you trust’; and ‘Responding with empowerment: That's where I really shined’.

Conclusions

People with intellectual disabilities experience functional assessments as scary and oppressive. Assessment reinforced the stigma associated with having an intellectual disability and, to a lesser extent, claiming benefits. Individual, structural and policy levels interventions are discussed.