Disabled People Cost More!

Access to Work is a Government funded scheme to help you and your employer if your health condition or disability effect the way you do your job.  There are a number of ways that Access to Work can help.  For example:

• Someone that acquires a disability may need equipment to help them back into the work place.
• Help with the cost of transport if you need to travel as part of your job but can no longer drive.
• Building work could be funded if you now need wheelchair access.
• A support worker could be provided to assist with parts of your job you cannot do.

In essence, if it will cost more to employ you because there are costs resulting from your disability, then Access to Work may be able to help.

Do I Qualify?

There are two parts to qualification:

1. You must have a disability that stops you being able to do part of your job (The disability should effect you for at least 12 months).
2. You must either have a paid job, be about to start a paid job or be self employed.

If you meet these criteria, you should phone an “Access to Work Contact Centre” and discuss the matter further.  They can then advise whether you qualify and what help could be available.

What Happens Next?

You need to complete an application form.  For this, you need to know what it is you need!  It may be necessary to take advice on this, maybe Occupational Health or a local Disability Living Centre.

Once it has been agreed what it is you need, Access to Work will negotiate funding with your employer.  When that has been agreed, your employer is expected to supply the resources and claim back funding from Access to Work.

Personal Experience

I have received help from Access to Work twice.  The first time, I had been redeployed and my Occupational Health Nurse asked if I had asked Access to Work for a Workplace Assessment.  I hadn’t, so I phoned and was told that I would qualify.  They completed the application form over the phone and then sent it out for me to sign.  I was told that someone would be in touch once they got the form back.

Within a couple of weeks, I had been visited by an Occupational Therapist and received a copy of her report.  She said I needed:

• A new desk because the one I had was not high enough (They said that leg raisers could be used but the desk I had was not suitable).
• A new chair and they specified which chair (a very expensive one!).
• A writing slope.

Within another couple of weeks, everything had arrived and Access to Work were back on the phone to check that I was happy.

The second time was a little different.  I had started using a wheelchair but needed something quite specific to use all day at work.  This time I knew what I wanted but didn’t know if it existed.

With help from Occupational Health and the Edinburgh Disability Living Centre, we found a wheelchair that could recline and put me in the position I needed to be in.  I then phoned Access to Work with the specific details of what I wanted.

This time the application needed to be backed up with information from my advisors (Occupational Health) explaining why I needed this particular piece of kit.

Once the application was approved, the same procedure kicked in and Access to Work agreed funding with my employer etc.  The chair was ordered and I waited about a month for delivery.

A Little Known Resource

My local management knew nothing of Access to Work and I noticed a big difference in their attitude when they found out about it.  I would be sure to let an employer know as soon as possible that Access to Work exists and is there to offset the (potentially) higher cost of employing a disabled person.  If you think there is event the slightest chance of discrimination, let employers know that they may not be expected to meet these costs.

• If you are a new employee (less than 6 weeks) Access to Work will pay 100% of the costs.
• If you are an existing employee, Access to Work will pay a proportion of the costs.
• Access to Work can even help with Interviews.

Further Reading

This article only scratches the surface.  For more details, check out these links:

Direct.gov.uk – Access to Work

Access to Work Contact Centres

Find Your Local Job Centre Plus

Assist UK – Disability Living Centres