Access-to-Work is available to help people with disabilities overcome difficulties in the workplace.  It offers practical advice and help in a flexible way that can be tailored to suit the needs of an individual in a particular job.  It can also provide a grant towards any extra employment costs because of a person's disability.

‘Access to Work’ is a government scheme which makes support available to help overcome the problems resulting from disability at work. This could be practical advice or help, and is tailored to the individual person and their job. Each person is assessed for their needs.

Getting help – The process

If you feel that the type of work you do is affected by a disability or health condition that is likely to last for 12 months or more, you should ask the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your local Jobcentre Plus office about Access to Work.

You can also approach directly the nearest Access to Work Business Centre which, for people living in Cumbria, is as follows:-

Jobcentre Plus Telephone no. 01204 516 480
Business Centre
P.O. Box 313 Textphone no. 01204 516 492
Bolton BL1 1FW

An Access to Work adviser will usually speak to you and your employer to reach a decision about the most effective support for you. In most cases, this can be done over the telephone but a visit can be arranged, if necessary. Sometimes specialist or technical advice may be needed, which the Access to Work Adviser will help to arrange.

When the Access to Work adviser has decided on the support they feel is appropriate, they will seek formal approval of their recommendations from Jobcentre Plus. You and your employer will then receive a letter informing you of the approved level of support and the grant available.

It is normally your employer (or you, if you are self-employed) who is responsible for arranging the agreed support and purchasing the necessary equipment. Your employer can then claim back a grant towards these approved costs from Access to Work.

Kind of support that Access to Work is able to provide

Access to Work can provide help to match an individual’s needs, but examples of help are as follows:-

• Communicator support at interview
• A reader at work if you have a visual impairment
• Specialist aids or equipment to help a disabled person function in the     workplace
• Adaptation to premises or existing equipment
• Additional travel costs for people unable to use public transport

Access to Work can also pay for a support worker if you need practical help either at work or getting to work. The type of support on offer might include:-
• Someone to help you communicate if you have a hearing impairment
• Someone to read to you if you are visually impaired
• A specialist coach for a person with learning difficulties

Access to Work Grant

The amount of help which you may receive from Access to Work will vary, depending on how long you have been employed, what support you need and whether you are self-employed.

Access to Work can pay up to 100% of the approved costs if you are:-

• Unemployed and starting a new job
• Self-employed
• Working for an employer and have been in the job for less than six weeks

Whatever your employment status, Access to Work will also pay up to 100% of the approved costs of help with:-

• Support workers
• Fares to work
• Communicator support at interviews

All help provided is for a maximum period of three years, after which the Access to Work Business Centre will review your circumstances and the support you are receiving. You may be provided with help for a further period if your employee continues to be eligible for help under the rules that then apply.

Please note the following

Access to Work is available when additional costs are incurred because of a disability. It cannot be used to provide support usually provided by employers or required under legislation for all their employees. Access to Work is individually tailored to meet the disability needs of the disabled employee in the workplace.

The employer is still responsible for issues relating to Health and Safety and the Disability Discrimination Act.

Hyperlink:

www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

www.employers-forum.co.uk/www/guests/info/factsheets/sheet1.htm