Access to Work
Access to Work is a government scheme that gives money to help disabled people start a job or stay in work.
Some deaf people rely on communication support or assistive technology to do their job. This support can be funded by the government through the Access to Work scheme (GOV.UK) run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The scheme is important because Access to Work grants can cover the costs of support you need. These may be things your employer might not be able to provide as part of the reasonable adjustments they legally have to make.
Who can get Access to Work
Lots of deaf people do not consider deafness to be a disability. However, even if you do not consider yourself to be disabled, you may still be eligible for financial support available to disabled people in employment.
To apply for an Access to Work grant you must:
- have a disability or health condition that makes it hard to do parts of your job or get to and from work. Deafness is included in the definition of a disability
- be 16 years old or over
- live in England, Scotland or Wales.
There’s a different scheme in Northern Ireland.
You cannot get Access to Work if you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
When you can get Access to Work
To get Access to Work you will need to have a paid job or be about to start or return to one.
A paid job can include:
- full or part-time work
- permanent or temporary work, including zero hours contracts
- self-employed work
- an apprenticeship, traineeship or supported internship
- a work trial or work experience that is paid, or expected to lead to a paid role
- a paid internship.
You cannot get Access to Work for volunteering or most unpaid work.
Income related benefits
Certain benefits can affect whether you can receive Access to Work.
You can receive Access to Work if you work more than one hour a week and get:
- Universal Credit
- Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Support.
If you get Employment and Support Allowance you can only receive Access to Work for 'permitted work'.
Get Access to Work for job interviews
When you’re applying for jobs, you can mention at the application stage or in your interview that Access to Work may be available to you.
If you have an interview and need communication support, you could use Access to Work. Communication support is the only support Access to Work will fund for interviews. To apply for funding for an interview you will need to complete a different form.
If you’ve been offered a paid job, you do not have to wait to start before applying for Access to Work. You can apply as soon as you receive your job offer.
You cannot get Access to Work for volunteer work or unpaid work experience.
Apply for Access to Work
You can apply for Access to Work online or by phone, including textphone and Relay UK. They also have a BSL video relay service.
You’ll need to provide:
- your work address and postcode
- the name of a person at work who can authorise your Access to Work payments
- the named person’s email address or work phone number.
You’ll also need to explain:
- how being deaf and any other conditions affect you at work or getting to work
- what help you’re already getting
- what else could help you.
It can be difficult to know the different ways being deaf can affect you at work. It can be even harder to explain it and know what options there are that could help you. This is particularly true if you’re starting a new job or your role changes.
Your job description should include details of the different tasks you’ll be doing. It may help to look at it with someone who has a good understanding of your deafness. They may be able to explain how they see it affecting you in other areas of your life.
We have information about technology and different types of communication support. This may help to give you an idea of the support you would want Access to Work grant to pay for.
It may also help to speak to your manager about your role. Ask what they can do to help you at work and about getting reasonable adjustments put in place.
Support Access to Work can pay for
The support you’ll be offered through Access to Work will depend on your needs. After you submit your application an Access to Work adviser will contact you to discuss what help you could get. They may also speak to your employer but will ask for your permission first. An Access to Work assessor can also visit you at work to assess your needs. An assessor would write a report and share this with your adviser.
An Access to Work grant can help to pay for equipment or services including:
- adaptations to the equipment you use
- special equipment or software
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, video relay service support, lip speakers, palantypists and note takers
- a job coach to support you to settle into your workplace
- deaf or disability awareness training for your colleagues.
Mariam uses Access to Work to fund interpreters for her Barclay's graduate scheme.
Access to Work can also assess whether your employer can do more to support you through reasonable adjustments.
Mental health support
You can also get confidential support and advice from a trained healthcare professional from the Mental Health Support Service, which is provided through Able Futures. You do not need to have a diagnosed condition to use the service.
How Access to Work is paid
Access to Work can pay support workers directly. Access to Work can pay support workers directly. Alternatively, you or your employer can pay for the items or service you need. Access to Work will pay you back. If some of the costs are to be covered by your employer or the NHS, then this amount will be taken off what is paid back.
length of Access to Work grants
Your Access to Work grant will normally be reviewed every year to see if your needs have changed. A grant can last for up to three years.
If your grant is ending soon, you'll need to reapply to renew it. You can apply up to 12 weeks before the current grant ends. As long as you still need the support you should continue to receive it.
When something changes
If your job changes or you feel the support, you need has changed you need to let Access to Work know.
You’ll also need to tell Access to Work if any of your contact details change. For example, if you get a new phone number.
To report a change, you can contact your Access to Work adviser directly or the Access to Work helpline.
Not happy with an Access to Work decision
You cannot appeal an Access to Work decision, but you can ask for it to be looked at by a different Access to Work adviser. To arrange this, you need to contact Access to Work using the details at the top of your award letter.
If you're unhappy with the service you’ve received from Access to Work, you can make a complaint using the Department for Work and Pensions complaints procedure.
If you have a problem with an Access to Work application or decision, please contact our Helpline.
Full references for this webpage are available by emailing
informationteam@ndcs.org.uk