Access to Work

Access to Work is a government scheme which is designed to meet additional costs of employing a disabled or deaf person where they are directly a result of that person’s impairments.

It is also designed to provide advice and support to employers and to disabled people to help make sure that disabled indivduals are considered for jobs on their merits, alongside non-disabled people.

This means

for employers
Access to Work can meet up to 100% of the costs of making changes in order that a disabled person can work for your organisation. You shouldn’t need to be worrying about what you think it might cost to employ a disabled person.

for disabled individuals
Access to Work increases your chances of being seriously considered for a job, even where you have an impairment  which means you need support in order to do that job. You shouldn’t need to worry that letting an employer know about your access requirements will make it less likely that you will get the job.

You may also get the support you need for a job interview.

Funding may be provided for support workers, fares to work, communicator support, and towards equipment and alterations to premises.

Access to Work support is based on a number of principles which are designed to ensure that it is fair and effective.

This sounds like good news for everyone, and in many cases, it has worked really well.

We’ve talked with a large number of individuals and organisations who have had contact with Access to Work. Experience seems to vary enormously.

Some people say that they simply would not be in a job were it not for Access to Work.

I certainly would not have been able to purchase all my equipment and support without it so I wouldn't be working without Access to Work getting me started and sustaining me through my first years of self employment

On the other hand, some people have just given up on the process because it all seems too difficult, taking too much time and energy. As one contributor said

Access to Work has had a negative effect on my work because of the interpreter situation and all the paperwork involved in sorting this out.  I have a very busy job anyway, so the extra hassle and frustration with Access to Work (who have to be chased as they never seem to reply to letters) causes extra and, in my view, unnecessary stress

Where it works, it seems to work really well but where it doesn’t it can be a distressing and demoralising experience. It’s important that everyone who has contact with Access to Work is prepared for the process and these pages are designed to give you the information you need.

The service is fundamentally important, but the delivery is often bureaucratic and frustrating and informed by a gate keeping mentality. The end result has been generally good.