UK Signal Boost: Study about Disability & Benefits at the University of Leeds

Are you a person with a disability?

Do you currently receive disability benefits?

Do you want to work?

If so, we want to talk to you! A research project at the University of Illinois at Chicago is interested in your experiences in and views of employment programs associated with work-related activities under reform to Incapacity Benefits or the Employment and Support Allowance.

We would like for you to participate in a focus group and share your experiences with the researchers and a group of people like you.

Who?

To be eligible, you must:

live in the city of Leeds or receive services there;

be between the ages of 18 and 64;

receive Incapacity Benefits or the Employment and Support Allowance; or be participating in or eligible for employment services through Pathways to Work or the New Deal for Disabled People


What?

We are asking you to participate in a focus group and discuss the issues that you have encountered and ideas that you have about programs that move individuals from receiving benefits into programs that have work requirements and emphasize the labor market. The focus group will last for about an hour and a half, and you will be compensated £20 for your participation.

Where and when?

A series of focus groups will be scheduled around the city of Leeds at various times in the month of May and June. You will be able to choose the date and location that works best for you.

Why?

This research is part of a project comparing employment policy for people with disabilities in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. As part of our data collection, we are particularly interested in hearing from people participating in the employment services that have resulted from reforms to the disability benefit system.

If interested, please contact Randall Owen via email at rowen4@uic.edu or via the telephone on 0113 815 0910. He will be will to give you more information, discuss the project with you in more detail and answer any questions that you might have.

* Accommodations for participation will be provided upon request