Not only do people with learning disabilities rely on benefits for housing, good nutrition and support for carers, they also need them to fund activities that boost their quality of life. Yet, navigating the system can be a minefield and some service users are losing out. That’s where a benefits service can help, says Julia Watts of The Regard Partnership

Providing the means for such things as maintaining a hobby, travelling to visit friends and relatives, or taking part in unpaid voluntary work that can be a route into paid employment, the true value of benefits to people with learning disabilities far exceeds their monetary amount.