It doesn’t seem possible, but it’s now 20 years since we first created the Benefits and Work website.  We’d love to hear how far back your memories of the site go and what it means to you.

We first registered the domain name benefitsandwork.co.uk in August 2002, but it took us a while to build our initial website.  We did it ourselves using a programme called Microsoft Frontpage combined with an almost complete lack of technical knowledge.  And it showed.

The first record of the site being online is on the archive website The Wayback Machine on 6 October 2002. 

Back then we didn’t publish news, there was no newsletter and no forum.

But we did have guides to DLA, AA and incapacity benefit.

Many of the sites that we had links to on our home page have since disappeared. 

Benefits Now, which allowed you to assess yourself for AA and DLA has long gone.  

The DLA Group, a discussion forum for claimants, is also no more.

Lisson Grove Benefits Programme provides benefits calculation software that does still exist, but is due to reach the end of its life in March 2023.

Rightsnet, the site for welfare rights workers was already an old hand then and happily is still going strong.

Over that time many people have been involved with the site as volunteer moderators, writers, updaters, trainers, technical support and more.

And many more have become loyal subscribers, whose support is the only reason the site has survived for 20 years when so many others have disappeared.

So, we don’t suppose there’s anyone who remembers us from as far back as 2002 – we scarcely remember it ourselves.

But we’d love to hear from you in the comments below about how long you’ve been using the site and what part it has played in your life.

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    Raymond Danks · 2 years ago
    I found your website in 2011 when I was researching how to appeal a dwp decision, I found this great site. Using the information that I gained from B&W
    I gained the insite I needed to seat infront of a judge and 2 other persons one from dwp and 2 doctor.
    I put my case and won I receive top rate of pip for both sections of benefits.
    Thanks to your wonderful site. I been a member ever since and tell as many people as I can about you guys.
    Many thanks.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Bryndan · 2 years ago
    I could not be more appreciative of this site I have been a member for the last 6 years,  invaluable to us all for the help in DWP benefits, the great knowledge of the team in helping us through the very stressful procedure of attending face to face medicals and even tribunals cannot be underestimated, I don't know what I would have done without this wonderful help and I will continue being a member for as long as I can. Thank you
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Sonia · 2 years ago
    Also been a member for ever! 2008 I think! Still have the incapacity benefit guide and dla guide o printed off years ago. And an IB to ESA guide and now DLA to PIP. I'm having the biggest nightmare at the moment over 3 yrs now fighting for dla and pip at tribunal. Dla was fraud investigation which I won . Pip hasn't happened yet because dla are trying to go to upper tribunal based on the judge closing an incorrect end date of dla( the date I was invited to claim pip) but apparently the complicated legislation says it should of been a few months later. Its all driven me into the arms of the mental health team. You guides training videos and I have to say the case law book author mark perlic has kept me going. 
    Your training guide was invaluable to my understanding of getting around following a journey that I really couldn't get my head around by just reading it(I have ME so it's a struggle) and even for a Huge organisation your compassionate and helpful it feels personal and your there for us. Thank you thank you thank you
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    red · 2 years ago
    ive been a member since the eearly days more than a help to get me through
    esa.dla medicals and soon dla to pip! the site is a godsend,thank you all
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Irene · 2 years ago
    I cannot THANK YOU enough. Without your site myself, my daughter whom I care for would literally not be here. Your information, your step by step, your support are a vital service. It is beyond horrendous what they choose, because that is what it is their choice, to put us through, worse than if we were criminals. Without you.... Impossible. I, we, cannot thank you enough for literally saving us. Please never leave us. Please never think we could do without you, we can't. Forever GRATEFUL.xx
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    mewcat · 2 years ago
    i used this site to get on incapacity benefit years ago and for ESA later on after it was changed, you do a great job keep up the good work guys, its nice to see there are people out there who care about the vulnerable, shame its not the government included in that tho.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    terdun9 · 2 years ago
    Our family are so very grateful for this site, after a sudden and quick ending to my husband's working life we were having so much worry about being left with practically nothing coming in money-wise, and at the time having to use all our savings before we could get any help from DWP at all. if my husband had become ill 3 weeks later than he did we would have lost our home as we were in the very last stage of buying it, thankfully we were buying our council house so all was well in the end.
                     Not even sure how we found this great site back then but so thankful we did because it's been helping us ever since with getting all the help and support required and has been for quite a few years since.
        so Happy 20th Birthday and by the way also our grandson's 20th Birthday as well and thank you very very much for all your help all  of you  your amazing
     and see ya in the next 20 years x
     

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