ARU Final Report

14 Young people with disabilities’ experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic safe and supported, not only during a pandemic but as a basic entitlement. 4.1.2 Finances Thirteen young people with disabilities told us about their finances during the pandemic and just under half (six) worried about finances while seven did not. Often, other people managed their money for them, or they had support with budgeting: Mummy gives me money when I need some. I didn’t really worry about money as I lived in supported accommodation. The only thing was, I struggled to manage my own finances. But, when I moved to Adult Services, [financial service] (part of social services) nowmanage my money. Not really. I amlucky to livewithmygrandparents and they look after my day-to-day needs. I pay £80 a month under the staying put agreement and I had some savings in my bank as well. However, other young people faced difficulties with their finances. This was sometimes due to the instability of benefits or not having enough money to live on, which was very concerning for them: Yes I did worry about money, my benefits weren’t stable and I was struggling on my own and with my drug use with managing money which has now really improved. That I didn’t/wouldn’t have enough to live on. That I don’t get enough to live on and that I spend it too quickly. Cos my Mum not having a job we have to rely on the government. I find it very difficult waiting a month for universal credit. …after I have paid my rent I am left with very little money left to live on. Comparably, Emerson et al. (2021) conducted a study to compare the short-term impact on employment and financial security of working age adults with and without disabilities during the first lockdown in England 2020. They concluded that working age adults with disabilities were particularly disadvantaged financially during this period. Their study found that during the lockdown, respondents with disabilities were more likely to have reduced working hours and more financial stress than non-disabled adults. Shakespeare, Ndagire and Seketi (2021) reiterate this point and stress that the socioeconomic circumstances of people with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Indeed, some young people in our study expressed the challenges they had with managing their money and the problems that this could sometimes lead to in their lives: Saving and not always having money because I spend it all. Budgeting is very hard for me. Because I can’t managemy ownmoneymymum looked after it, which caused some problems between us. I cannot manage my money so I am waiting for my finances to be taken over by the council’s XXX. They will then manage my money for me. My food and rent is paid for as I live in supported accommodation. Mainly due to mental health during the pandemic meant that I struggled to leave the house for shopping so I bought more takeaways which had a massive effect on my money. I am getting support with this now. In contrast, other young people described how their finances had improved during the pandemic, often due to managing their money better: Since I moved in with my partner we have been sharing bills, I am now receiving UC health and