Right. Quick Q - I'm stuck. I may be way off. Hear me out.
I figure I won't be able to fight this. I'm going to be sent out to work. I want to work. Contrary to popular belief, disabled people generally don't want to live off the state.
So here's the thing.
I think it's well established now that being sent back to work via ESA can mean big bonuses for employers. As I understand it, a work provider can claim up to £14,000 over two years for giving someone like myself a job.
That's a lot of money. That's almost a wage. That's free work, in other words.
I think it's also established that companies like Tesco play a part in this, and profit accordingly. Wage insentives, I believe they're called.
What I don't know, and am trying to establish, is this; who can claim these bonuses/bribes/bungs?
Can a local business give a disabled person a job? Can they take on a person they may not otherwise be able to afford and get this money from the government, or is it all sewn up with big contracts to companies like Tesco?
Lots of companies will profit from disabled people being sent back to work, but my question is, who can profit?
Some of us have skills that are quiet specialised, despite our limitations. You wouldn't want me to wait your table. But I'm really good at a lot of things. I'm obviously not alone on that one. For example, I imagine a scenario where a studio/radio station/wherever could make use of my skills, and take a lower hit financially by getting help from the government. Is this wishful thinking? Can we turn this situation around, and use this money to create opportunities for ourselves, or are we stuck on a conveyor belt aimed at the supermarkets?
I have no idea, and I'm struggling to find anything about this.
If anybody has any clues, I'd love to know. Find me here, or on twitter. That's kris [@] krishalpin.com or @krishalpin.
