Hiring a disabled person is not only beneficial to your business and the disabled community, but it is one of the largest sectors of the workforce which is being under-utilised. With 20% of the UK’s working age population being disabled, it is essential for our economy to provide better opportunities for disabled recruitment.
This is why the government has devoted a vast fund towards providing disability support, known as Access to Work, which is able to offer you up to £60,700 per year.
With the potentially devastating impact of coronavirus on the economy, it is essential that we rebuild the economy with those who have been left behind in the past at the centre of our recruitment policy.
Together, we can revolutionise the workforce in a more equitable and profitable manner than ever before.
Access to Work
Access to Work is the government’s main scheme for providing employers with support for their disabled employees. The scheme applies to England, Scotland and Wales only.
The scheme provides a grant to cover the costs of additional support, up to a maximum of £60,700 per year, not the support itself. As such, you have to initially pay for the necessary support, to which the government will reimburse you.
This support is defined by the government as follows:
Eligibility
In order to be eligible, the government has outlined a number of conditions your employee must meet:
How to Claim
Although the government will be reimbursing you, the employer, it is your employee who must apply for Access to Work.
In order to apply, your employee will need:
The main methods of application are through telephone (0800 121 7479) or through textphone (0800 121 7579).
For more information on how to claim, go to the government’s online guide for employers.
If for any reason you cannot follow the usual application method, you can send a letter to:
Access to Work
Operational Support Unit
Harrow Jobcentre Plus
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1JE
Local Grants
We are in the process of compiling the appropriate information regarding accessing local support, such as grants or funding from your local council or charities.
For more information, go to our page on local assistance, or you can search for your local council’s website and contact information through this link.