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Access to Work is a government scheme which can help you if your health or disability (including dyslexia) affects the way you do your job. It gives you and your employer advice and support with extra costs which may arise because of your needs. It is also available to the self-employed.
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This is not the official Access to Work website, which can be found here.
Although during 2010, there were considerable changes to this service, it can still help you to receive support which may help you in your current employment, new job, or self-employment. This could be equipment, software, support workers, transport to work etc.
Receive up to 100%
At the time of writing (January 2011), you can receive "up to 100 per cent of the approved costs" if you are:
- unemployed and starting a new job
- self-employed
- working for an employer and have been in the job for less than six weeks
- working for "employers with 1 to 9 employees". (Sliding scale of funding for larger employers.)
- needing help with "support workers, fares to work, communicator support at interview"
Easy to check your eligibility
You can check if you are eligible to apply for support here, or just call Access to Work at the applicable contact centre shown here.
My experience is that they are helpful and make it easy to check your eligibility to apply. If you are eligible, after a few questions, they will send you the application form which will already contain the information you gave them over the phone. In many cases, all you will need to do is check it, sign it and send it back.
Don't lose out by listening to rumours!
Due to the changes that happened during 2010, there seem to be many misconceptions surrounding the availability of Access to Work support. I have even heard it said that Access to Work no longer exists, which it most certainly does!
Another incorrect rumour is that speech recognition software like Dragon NaturallySpeaking is no longer considered for funding. This is not true!
Don't assume you won't get help. Call Access to Work now!
If you want to know more about how the Equality Act affects you, go here.
Who Am I?
- Over 30 years of technology experience.
- Over 9 years of helping disabled people to use technology to improve their lives.
- Over 3 years of carrying out hundreds of workplace assessments, suggesting technology and other help for people with a range of disabilities and health problems.
- I am currently employed conducting assessments for dyslexia, visual impairments, hearing impairments, dexterity issues (e.g. arthritis, RSI etc) and other physical disabilities (e.g. MS, cerebral palsy, strokes, etc).
- I try to keep up with technology by researching and testing it myself where possible, including computer software, equipment for the above disabilities, iPhone apps, and useful gadgets.
- As I have some dexterity and other issues, I use some of this technology myself to help me in my work.
To contact me, not Access to Work, email me at the following address.
Sorry, to reduce my junk mail, you won't be able to copy and paste this email address. For the same reason, I'm afraid it may be a little difficult to read.
(The bit before the 'at' sign is moreinfo, the bit after the 'at' sign is accesstowork.co.uk)
I repeat, this is not Access to Work's email address. See above for their contact details.
