Sussex Business Guide to Disability

Access to Work

Access to Work is a programme funded by the Department of Work and Pensions. It aims to provide support to overcome the specific work related difficulties a person faces because of their disability. The scheme itself is flexible and can provide advice, assessment and help to pay for solutions. These can include:

• adaptations to premises and equipment, including changes to the workplace, equipment or company vehicles so that a deaf employee can use them. You must help pay for these adaptations if they benefit all staff, the organisation itself, or other employees or customers.
• communication support during interviews or in the workplace, including help with the cost of using communication support to prevent communication problems. Access to Work pays the full cost of communication support for interviews.
• special aids and equipment, including provision of equipment, which can be bought or hired.
• travel to work, such as organising transport or financial help to pay extra costs travelling to and from work.
• help with adapting a vehicle.

Eligibility

To be eligible for help from Access to Work, individuals must:

• be disabled according to the definitions of the Disability Discrimination Act.
• need support at job interviews, have a job to start, or be in a job, whether they are self-employed or employed
• need support to progress in, or accept, work
• live in, and have a job, in the UK
• not be getting Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disability Allowance. People who are getting these should tell the Department for Work and Pensions about the date they started work.

Application process for Access to Work

As soon as you have a starting date, the employer or employee should contact a Disability Employment Adviser at Jobcentre Plus to apply for Access to Work.

The individual will be directed to their local Access to Work Business Centre where an Access to Work adviser can assess and agree what is needed, based on the requirements of the job and the individual's disability. This can be done over the telephone or textphone. Workplace assessments may be carried out if needed.

How much does Access to Work pay?

Access to Work pays up to 100% of the approved costs for:

• unemployed people starting a job
• all self-employed people
• employees who have been in the job for less than six weeks.

Access to Work will contribute a percentage of the approved costs of the following, regardless of how long the employee has worked:

• support workers
• fares to work (if an employee has mobility problems).

Access to Work pays 100% of communication support if you are interviewing a prospective employee.

If an employee has worked for six weeks or more and needs special equipment or adaptations to the work place, Access to Work pays a percentage of the costs and the employer pays the rest as follows:

Approved cost: Maximum Access to Work payment

• Less than £300: Nothing
• Between £300 and £10,000: 80% of costs over £300
• Over £10,000: 80% of costs between £300 and £10,000, and 100% of costs over £10,000

How long is an Access to Work award for?

All Access to Work help is for a maximum of three years, after which Jobcentre Plus reviews the circumstances. Access to Work may provide help for a further period if your employee continues to be eligible for help under the rules that apply at that time.

Contact Details:

Access To Work
Norfolk House
High Street
Shoreham by Sea
BN43 5EN

Telephone enquiries: 01273 364750
Textphone: 01273 364782

www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/HelpForDisabledPeople/AccesstoWork/

© 2007 Disability Equals Business