March 2015 www.sensorysupportservice.org.uk The background - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Employment

and

Access to Work

March 2015

www.sensorysupportservice.org.uk

sensory support service

The background

• Equality Act (2010)

Disability – ‘a physical or mental impairment

which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect

• n [your] ability to carry out normal day-to-day

activities’ This can include disabilities that are only discovered

• r apparent in the workplace
• Reasonable adjustments

Duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments

for employees (including at interviews)

Access to Work

• A grant to pay for any additional costs in the

workplace which arise from a disability, medical or mental health condition

• Not repayable
• Does not affect tax or benefits (although

people on some benefits, eg Incapacity Benefit, are not eligible for Access to Work)

• Not means tested
• Amount paid depends on personal situation

Core values and principles of Access to Work

• Additional costs - can help with costs which are over and

above what a non-diasabled person would require to do their job

• Meeting minimum needs – provides support that allows

individuals to overcome workplace barriers that arise from their disability

• Above and beyond – support from Access to Work is above

and beyond a reasonable adjustment and does not replace an employer’s legal duty to make reasonable adjustments

• Value for money – Access to Work provides support that

meets minimum needs in the most cost-effective way for taxpayers

(Access to Work 2015)

Who can get Access to Work?

• Over 16
• Looking for work, about to start work, in a

full or part-time paid job or self-employed (voluntary work is not eligible)

• Have a disability, health or mental health

condition which impacts on a job

• Have a condition which means that they

could have to pay work-related costs (eg for specialist computer software, support worker or travel costs)

What does it pay for?

Things like:

• Special equipment, technology or software
• Support workers
• Help with transport costs if public transport

cannot be used due to condition

• Disability awareness training for other staff
• Adaptions to the workplace
• Support for interviews
• Cost of moving equipment if you change job
• r location

How do I get Access to Work?

• Information can be found on

www.direct.gov.uk Home>benefits>carers and disability benefits>Access to Work

• Apply early, particularly if you want

support for an interview

• Do your homework – think of different

interview methods (eg group activities, Skype, telephone interviews) and work situations, how you would manage these and if anything would help

Further information

• www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
• www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs/ouch/
• www.businessdisabilityforum.org.uk
• www.disabilityrightsuk.org
• www.gov.uk for both DSA and Access

to Work

• www.limpingchicken.com