By Mel. The author is an expert by experience who would like to be known by their first name only.
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I didn’t even realise that I had a certain idea of ‘the type of people who claim benefits’ until I suddenly found myself one of them. I never expected to need to, but within the space of 6 months my marriage ended and I caught Covid, then developed Long Covid, and my life completely changed. I’d gone from a comfortable and stable life to being long-term unemployed and living hand-to-mouth. I learned how easy it was for anyone to end up in need of the help that benefits give. Unfortunately, I also learned how difficult and stressful it can be to claim those benefits.
One of the aspects I found the hardest to deal with was the loss of my identity and sense of purpose. I’d so quickly gone from being an active, busy and fulfilled person – a wife, a teacher, a keen runner, always on the go – to struggling to complete simple tasks, such as preparing meals within a strict budget, or juggling appointments with health professionals and regular visits to the job centre. In particular, I found it so difficult and dehumanising to have to attend meetings with a work coach where I felt like a number, a tick-box exercise, where the coach could suggest nothing useful and all I could contribute was the same weekly update: I still have Long Covid… My work coach had a single A4 sheet for all the appointments she had that day. My own appointment was one single line on this sheet. How could she make meaningful, personal notes about my specific situation? And at this point, because I had been successful in my claim for Employment and Support Allowance, I was having to jump through these hoops for the sake of just over £1 of Universal Credit per month! My mental health suffered badly.
It was at that time that I saw a poster inviting Universal Credit claimants to share their experiences with a researcher at Newcastle University. I welcomed the opportunity to talk to somebody about how challenging I was finding the whole process. Following this initial interview I was then invited to take part in a group which became known as ‘UC Creatives’; over a series of workshops we explored different ways to express our lived experience as benefit claimants creatively and artistically, producing photography, writing and mixed media art, ultimately putting together an exhibition which has been displayed physically in several locations but which can also be viewed online.
This group gave me so much on a personal level. I met and became friends with people from such a variety of backgrounds, with different reasons for needing to claim benefits, and any remaining unconscious prejudices I had slipped away. It was so encouraging to be with others who were going through similar difficulties, however we had reached that point, and laughing and crying together as we shared our stories was cathartic. It was also frustrating to realise how widespread the issues with the benefits process actually were, though. From unwieldy claim forms to lengthy waits for money to be paid to strict and inflexible sanctions to a ‘one size really doesn’t fit all’ system, my own experience was far from unique.
One big thing we all had in common was that the process of claiming benefits had adversely affected our mental health. Hearing others talk about their troubles could have led us further into despair, but instead we were motivated to combine our voices to speak up, to raise awareness, to lobby those in positions of power, and to try to make a difference. Our exhibition was a good start, and we were delighted to welcome a local MP to see it as well as share it with health professionals and DWP workers. Individuals within the group developed the confidence to join advisory groups relating to our specific circumstances, to attend and present at conferences, or to write poetry or articles for publication in print or online. From feeling lost, isolated, sidelined and disenfranchised, we’d found purpose!
So yes, that’s a big positive to take from the opportunity we’ve had to share our lived experience. However, the doubts sometimes creep in… Is all this making any difference? Are the people who listen to us those who already agree with us – are we preaching to the converted? Are we reaching those who could actually make changes to the process? Is it all worth it, or are we shouting into the void?
I don’t know, to be honest. But we’re going to keep trying. Keep speaking up. Keep sharing. Keep shouting. Keep fighting. Keep hoping.
We’ve found our voices. We’re going to keep using them. Surely they will reach the right people and we will see change – one day?
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The UC Creatives online gallery can be viewed here.
More information about the original workshop related to this blog can be found here: https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/case/_new/research/lived-experience/