Guidance update: Access to Work

The information has been updated to include the new cap of £57,200 for 2018 to 2019. The government announced that the cap would increase by £15,000 from April to give disabled employees better access to the assistance they need to carry out their jobs.

Access to Work is a specialist disability service from Jobcentre Plus that gives practical advice and support to disabled people, whether they are working, self-employed or looking for employment.

It is provided where someone needs support or adaptations beyond the reasonable adjustments which an employer is legally obliged to provide under the Equality Act.

In addition to increasing the cap, the Access to Work scheme has also been improved with the introduction of new measures. These include, among others, discretion in exceptional cases of multiple disability, the introduction of managed personal budgets, and allowing more flexibility in how people can use Access to Work to support short periods of work experience where there is a likelihood of a paid job in the near future.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, said: “We believe that disabled people should have every opportunity to thrive in the workplace, and the tailored support of Access to Work caters to every individual’s unique needs.

“By extending this grant we’re ensuring that many more disabled people can reach their career potential, which is a key part of our commitment to getting one million more disabled people in work by 2027.”