News
Government lists ‘standard equipment’ not eligible for Access to Work funding
Updated guidance to Jobcentre staff placed in House of Commons library
07 December, 2010
Updated guidance to Jobcentre Plus staff, listing what is 'standard equipment' and therefore not eligible for funding under the Access to Work scheme, has been placed in the House of Commons library.
In a written answer to a parliamentary question about changes to the scheme, Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller said -
'Access to Work guidance has for many years specified that funding cannot be provided for standard equipment, that an employer would need to provide for any employee to do their job. We have in the past allowed Access to Work advisers to form local judgments about what should be regarded as standard equipment and this has led to inconsistent decisions. A revised list of equipment has therefore been included in the Access to Work guidance in order to assist advisers in making operational decisions on each case under consideration for funding and ensure consistency across the country.'
Items listed as 'standard' in the updated guidance include -
- analogue hearing aids;
- chairs with the exception of very specialist, bespoke examples;
- desks/extenders/bridges/feet/desk raisers;
- arm rests;
- gel rests;
- perching stools;
- backrests/wedges/back friend/cushions/swivel pads;
- monitor arms;
- desk top computers screens;
- keyboards (including overlays), printers, scanners, fax machines;
- all telephony;
- document holders /writing slopes;
- basic versions of voice activated software;
- walking aids (sticks, rollators);
- internet connections/rentals for home working; and
- lighting (daylight lighting etc.).
The Minister for Disabled People's statement on the Access to Work Scheme is available in Hansard.
The updated guidance on Access to Work for Jobcentre Plus staff is available from the House of Commons library under reference DEP2010-2088
PDF version
Today the Government is announcing changes to Access to Work, a disability employment programme, to give disabled people faster and simpler support into work.
Access to Work provides financial help towards the extra costs faced by disabled people in work, where this goes beyond what would be reasonable for an employer to meet.
From today, disabled jobseekers will be able to find out immediately if they’re eligible for Access to Work support by completing a short on-line questionnaire at Directgov.
If eligible, they will be able to print off a new "Pre-Employment Eligibility Letter" which will help build their confidence when applying for jobs and can be shown to prospective employers.
Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller said:
Further changes to Access to Work include from April 2010 larger employers being asked to contribute more towards some adaptations and equipment, which has permitted smaller employers to contribute less, and the very smallest employers to be exempt from any contributions.
Access to Work advisors have also been issued with new guidance to ensure consistent decisions around what equipment employers should reasonably be expected to provide to any of their workers, so freeing resources to support workers with more extensive or specialist needs.
An Equality Impact Assessment has been prepared to ensure that these changes have no adverse impact on any particular group and will be available on the DWP website.
Notes to Editors:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2010/dec-2010/dwp175-10-09...