Access to Work
How can Access to Work help me?
Access to work can address specific barriers that you face in work that relate to your impairment(s). The assessment process determines the types of support that you will need, and often you will be offered a workplace assessment. The assessor will talk through the barriers you face on a day to day basis and suggest potential solutions. Taxi costs require medical evidence from a doctor or other health professional but many other forms of support do not require medical evidence. Some of the support we have seen awarded through the scheme includes:
- Personal Assistance (a paid person to provide practical assistance to you)
- Taxi budgets
- Software such as Texthelp or Zoomtext or Dragon Naturally Speaking
- Equipment such as voice recorders or magnifiers
- Memory coaching sessions
- Specialised chairs and desks for wheelchair users, people with chronic pain or other impairments
- Adapted keyboard and mouse
- Job coaching
- Mental Health Support Service
There may be other things you can access depending on your circumstances.
What is the process like?
The process begins with an online form. The questions that are asked will vary depending on the support that you wish to access. We have attached a guide including the questions that you will be asked (updated Summer 2017). The form must be completed in one sitting, so if this isn’t accessible to you then you may wish to work on the questions in a separate document and paste them into the online form when you are ready to. Click here to download the questions.
If you require taxi costs you will need to get medical evidence from your doctor using the guidance from the DWP.
Once your application has been recieved it will be looked at by an assessor at the DWP. They will then make contact with you, usually by phone unless you specify otherwise. They will ask a few follow up questions, and will look to speak to your employer to confirm that you work for them. Once this has been done you can arrange the workplace assessment and seek your medical evidence if necessary.
The turnaround should not be too long, but it can sometimes take some time – so it is best to get started as early as possible. Once complete, you will receive an award letter detailing what you are entitled to. If this includes equipment or software your employer should purchase this and they will be reimbursed by the DWP upon completion of a claim form (this must be done within 6 months).
Requesting medical evidence
You will be given a template by Access to Work to give to your GP so that they can fill out the relevant sections. This is only required for travel to work and personal assistance support.
Managing a taxi budget
If successful in claiming a taxi budget then you will be expected to fill out claim forms to be reimbursed for this. If your local taxi service provides customer accounts you may find it helpful to set one up. You will receive statements showing your journeys on them.
Communications support
Deaf people who require communication support through Access to Work will be asked for more details about their new job. You will be asked about the role, your duties and the hours you work. You will then be allocated an amount of hours per week of interpreter time that you can claim through Access to Work. Other forms of support such as textphones may be recommended.
Self employment
If self employed you will be asked to submit additional information to Access to Work including proof of self employment status. If you are starting a business you will be asked to submit business plans showing that your new business is legitimate.
Claiming the costs back
Your employer will be expected to pay the upfront costs of your support. Once this has been done they can claim the costs back. Paperwork will be sent out to your employer to complete. Invoices from purchases will be requested and the employer will give bank details for the funds to be paid into.