Access to Work

What is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a UK government scheme designed to help people with disabilities or health conditions start or stay in work. It provides practical and financial support to overcome challenges at work which arise from disability. The scheme aims to ensure that those who are disabled have the same opportunities to be successful in the workplace as their non-disabled counterparts.

Our Access To Work services provide key support to individuals and organisations alike.

Features of Access to Work

Who can get Access to Work?

• It is available to individuals with a physical or mental health condition or disability that affects their ability to work.
• Applicants must be aged 16 or over and either in a paid job, self-employed, or about to start a job or work trial. It’s important to note that if you’re starting your job within six weeks that you can access the service sooner.
• The support is also available for apprenticeships and internships.

Do you need a diagnosis to use Access to Work?

No you do not, a definition of a disability is:

You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ (over 12 months long) negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

Equality Act 2010

What support can I get via Access to Work?

• Tools and equipment that make it easier for disabled employees to do their job.
• Modifications and adaptations to the physical work environment to make it more accessible.
• Assistance with travel to and from work, including taxi fares if public transport is not accessible.
• Funding for personal assistance or a job coach to help with specific tasks or aspects of the job. Creased Puddle’s coaching services can be accessed via Access to Work, get in touch with us using the form below to see how we can help with this.
• Mental health support to manage conditions and stay in work.

Application Process for Access to Work

How do I apply for Access to Work?

• Applications can be made online or over the phone through the Access to Work website.
• An assessment may be conducted to determine the specific needs and appropriate support.
• Once approved, the funding will be provided directly to the employer or the service provider. There may be requirements for you to submit the claims on behalf of your employer but this process is easily completed online.

What are the responsibilities of my employer?

• Employers may need to contribute towards the cost of the support, particularly for larger organisations.
• Access to Work may fund all of the support if the application is completed in a short period of time leading up to starting employment.
• They must also cooperate with the adjustments recommended by Access to Work to ensure the employee can work effectively.

What are the benefits of Access to Work?

• Provides the necessary resources to an employee so that they can perform their job effectively and maintain employment.
• Helps to create an inclusive workplace, improves employee retention, and ensures compliance with disability legislation.

Access to Work is an important initiative for promoting inclusivity and supporting disabled individuals in the workforce. It helps remove barriers to employment and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential at work.

Access to Work – Guidance on How to Access Our Services

If you fit certain criteria you may be entitled to funding via Access to Work.  Having done so, and been successful, you may have been awarded this funding to purchase equipment, awareness sessions for your team or coaching.

The administration process can be confusing so we have put together this helpful guidance to assist you with the clerical process.

If you work for an organisation you may find it useful to find someone to assist you.

1. Your employer will have been sent a ‘Grant Letter’ which is called a ATW02EL. On the 2^nd page of this are the timeframes for the award.  These are extremely important as your award does not have an indefinite amount of time.  You must claim back invoices within 9 months of the session invoiced.
2. If you decide that you’d like Creased Puddle to deliver your coaching then just email us on [email protected] or phone us on 0800 6696035.  Our friendly office team will then guide you through how to book
3. Our contract is formed with your organisation so although you can book your services with us you should have the authorisation to do so or someone in your organisation can do this for you. Often it’s a HR representative or your line manager.
4. We will invoice your organisation for the full amount when the service is booked. If you do not complete your coaching then we will credit them minus any administration charges as laid down in our Terms and Conditions
5. The paperwork and emails that have been sent to you and your employer, from Access to Work, will stipulate the detail of how many sessions you can book at one time and when you can claim them back, its often easier to wait until you have finished your whole course as long as you are in time.

How to Claim

To claim back funding for each invoice for coaching you will need to create an account to make an online claim. Instructions for doing so can be found here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: Claiming money from your grant.

If you are self employed we have a dedicated system to assist with this, please let us know if you would like to know more about this when you contact us.

If you have any questions you can ring Access to Work on 0800 1217479 or email at [email protected].