Access to Work Scheme

The purpose of the Access to Work Scheme is to help people with an illness or disability gain, remain or progress in their ability to work.

Employers have a duty to make “Reasonable Adjustments,” for their employees and there are legal remedies that you can take under the Equality Act if they fail to do this. If, however, the additional support you need is beyond the scope of the employer, you can apply to Access to Work for help. Access to Work can help to meet needs in addition to any “Reasonable Adjustments” that an employer has undertaken.

 

What Will Access to Work Pay For?

Under the scheme, you can get a grant towards things like:

  • adaptations to the equipment you use
  • special equipment or software
  • British Sign Language interpreters and video relay service support, lip speakers or note-takers
  • adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work
  • taxi fares to work or a support worker if you cannot use public transport - for example, if you use a wheelchair and your journey includes a train station that does not have ramps
  • taxi fares to work or a support worker if you cannot use public transport safely
  • a support worker or job coach to help you in your workplace
  • personal protective equipment for your support worker if you employ them yourself
  • disability awareness training for your colleagues
  • the cost of moving your equipment if you change location or job

You can also get help if you work from home and need aids or adaptations there.

 

Who Can Apply to Access to Work?

  • Anyone Living in England, Wales, or Scotland (Northern Ireland has a similar scheme which is referred to below).
  • Anyone over 16 years of age
  • Anyone with an Illness or disability that makes it hard to get into or stay in work.
  • Applicants can be employees, self-employed, doing work experience or an internship.

 

How Is the Grant Paid?

The grant can be paid as a reimbursement to the applicant or the employer once they have paid for the item, adaptation, or service.

 

Impact on benefits

Access to Work grants do not affect benefit entitlements but Employment & Support Allowance claimants can only receive a grant if they are doing “Permitted Work.”

 

Other Issues

  • Employees of certain Government departments, such as DWP, can’t apply to the scheme because the department has made a commitment to pay for addition support to disabled employees out of its general budget.
  • Access to Work won’t pay for anything that an employer has agreed to pay for in the past but has now stopped for some reason.
  • You are more likely to succeed with an application if you have had a discussion with your employer about any Reasonable Adjustments they can make.

 

How to Apply for Access to Work

You can apply online https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply 

The Access to Work helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm:

Telephone: 0800 121 7479
Textphone: 0800 121 7579
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 7479

 

Access to Work (Northern Ireland)

The Access to Work Scheme in Northern Ireland Is similar but, not identical to that in England and Wales.

Access to Work (NI), like in England & Wales helps with the practical problems caused by a long-term illness or disability. It offers advice and helps to meet the needs of an individual in a particular job or getting to and from work.

Access to Work (NI) can help towards the cost of:

  • communication support for deaf people or people who have a hearing impairment and need a communicator in the workplace or at interview
  • provision of special aids and equipment to suit particular work needs arising from disability
    adaptations to premises and equipment in the workplace to help an employee with disabilities
  • support if practical help is needed because of a disability, either at work or getting to and from work
  • support when a person with a disability incurs extra costs in travelling to and from work because of disability
  • support to assist employers where other additional costs arise because of disability - for example, extra 'in-work' travel costs, or provision of disability awareness training
    The Application Process

The application has to be made by the employee who needs assistance. However, a work coach can contact your local Access to Work team for you or give you their contact details. Subsequently, an Access to Work adviser will usually visit your place of work and advise on the most cost-effective option available.

Help will be approved for as long as it is needed up to a maximum of three years.

 

Applying to Access to Work (NI)

For more information and to apply for help through this programme, contact the Department for Communities.

 You can also contact a work coach in your local Jobs and Benefits office.

If you use sign language, you can use British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL) to contact Access to Work (NI). To use the video relay service: