Advice


F O R P A R ENTS


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What is Access to Work? Access to Work is a discretionary grant sceme to elp more people wit specic requirements get into or stay in work by proiing practical an nancial support. The scheme is tailored to an individual’s needs, and can provide funding for travel to work, and for support workers, specialist ais an euipment. To be eligible for Access to Work, a candidate should: • Have a disability or health condition (physical or mental) that makes it hard for them to do parts of their job, or get to and from work • Be 16 or over • Live in England, Scotland or Wales – tere’s a ifferent sstem in ortern relan  see niirect.go.uk


They also need to have a paid job, or be about to start or return to one.  pai ob could include:


• Self-employment • An apprenticeship


• A work trial or work experience • An internship


The grant does not apply to voluntary work, and the job must be based in nglan, cotlan or Wales.  caniate may also be eligible for Access to Work support if they are on a Department for Education (DfE) supported internship or traineesip programme.


Can Access to Work help someone not yet in employment?


If they have either an interview scheduled, or are about to start a new job, they may be eligible for ccess to Work. e ma nee to proie a ob offer letter, a ob start ate, or a letter conrming te interiew.


What are supported internships? Supported internships are a type of study programme aimed at young people who want to move into employment and need extra support to o so. e must be age from 16 to 24 (or 25, if the internship is completed before the end of the academic year during which the young person turned 25) with an ucation, ealt an are  plan. Supported internships are intended to equip young people that have learning ifficulties, anor isabilities, wit te skills needed to achieve sustainable, paid emploment. nternsips normall last for a year and include an unpaid work placement of at least si monts. ccess to Work onl funds up to 39 weeks of support for the unpai work portion of te internsip.


What are traineeships? Traineeships are another type of study programme that include a work placement and aim to move young people closer to emploment. raineesips proie the essential work preparation training, alongsie nglis an mats ualications,


Know about all the possible support available – including the Access to Work initiative


and work experience needed to secure an apprenticesip or pai emploment. ltoug they do not need an EHC plan to be placed on a traineeship programme, they will only be able to receive Access to Work support while on a traineesip if te ae an  plan. As traineeships can last anywhere between six weeks and six months, Access to Work support for a traineeship programme is aailable for a maimum of  weeks.


For those already in employment, Access


to Work can help pay for support they may need because of a disability or long-term health condition, for example:


• Aids and equipment in the workplace • Adapting equipment to make it easier to use


• Money towards any extra travel costs to and from work if they cannot use available public transport, or need help to adapt their vehicle


• An interpreter or other support at a ob interiew if te ae ifficult communicating


• Other practical help at work, such as a job coach, a note taker or lip speaker Jobs can be part-time or full-time, temporary or permanent.


How to apply... o appl online, or n out more about Access to Work, please visit: go.ukaccesstowork l


Spring 2020 WhatLive.co.uk 47


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