Access to Work
Access to Work is a government funded scheme run by Jobcentre Plus. As well as giving advice and information to disabled people and employers, it provides financial assistance towards the extra costs of employing someone with a disability. Its purpose is to help tackle the practical obstacles disabled people may meet at work. Access to Work is applicable to any job – part-time or full-time, permanent or temporary, and to self-employed people as well as unemployed people seeking employment.
What can Access to Work help with?
Access to Work can help pay for:- Specialist equipment or alterations to existing equipment to suit your particular work needs
- A reader at work for people with sight difficulties
- Alterations to the premises or working environment
- Help towards the cost of getting to work if you cannot use your car or public transport
Access to Work advisers can be contacted through the disability employment advisers at your local Jobcentre Plus.
Access to Work – changes from 1st October 2006
From 1st October 2006, the responsibility for providing the financial support for transport, personal support or workplace adjustments for employees will be met by some government departments. If disabled employees of these government departments need these "reasonable adjustments" under the DDA, they will need to approach their line manager or HR department.
Access to Work will continue to arrange ergonomic, technical or sensory assessments in the workplace for employees of other government departments where needed and the assessors will produce a report following the assessment. This will be given to the individual and their manager for implementation.
Where an individual asks for help with transport costs or a support worker, ATW will be able to advise both staff and managers of other government departments on the procedures they should adopt to ensure that they deal with these requests correctly (as with other requests to put in place “reasonable adjustments” under the DDA).
This new policy applies to government departments and not to local authorities or the NHS.
If you need further information or are having difficulties, you may wish to contact one of the following:
- Access to Work: 020 8426 3110
- Disability Law Service: 020 7791 9800
- MS Society Helpline: 0808 800 8000
