Access to Work (AtW) - Brief Outline

Aims of AtW

•  To meet a disabled person's minimum requirements to overcome employment related obstacles resulting from disability.

•  To enable disabled people to work on a more equal basis with non-disabled colleagues.

•  To encourage employers to recruit and retain disabled people by offering practical help.

Who can receive AtW support?

•  Unemployed people

•  People in work who acquire a disability or whose disability progresses

•  People with a disability whose job circumstances change within work

•  People with a disability who move to a new employer

AtW does not provide for: 

•  Support that employers normally provide for non-disabled employees

•  The normal costs of setting up, running or expanding a business

•  Specialist support needed due to the nature of the business

•  Any business/personal benefit

To be eligible a disabled person must: 

•  Need support at a job interview or in new or existing work

•  Need support to progress in or take up work

•  Live in and have a job in Northern Ireland

•  Not be in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, SDA or Sickness Benefit

•  Be at least 16 years old

Elements of AtW 

•  Communication Support at Interview:

Full costs met for people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment and need communication support at interview

•  Special Aids and Equipment:

Contribution towards the cost incurred in providing special equipment to meet work needs arising from disability

•  Adaptations to Premises and Equipment:

Contribution towards the cost of modifying premises and equipment to facilitate a specific disabled employee

•  Travel to Work:

Contribution towards the disabled employee's additional cost of getting to and from work if he/she cannot use public transport

•  Support Worker:

Contribution towards the cost of employing a support worker if practical help is needed either at work or getting to and from work

•  Miscellaneous

For example specific disability awareness training or costs of in-work travel costs

Cost sharing thresholds

For an employed or self employed disabled person:

•  If support costs under £500 no contribution is available

•  If support costs from £500 to £10,000 contribution up to 70% of costs available

•  If support costs over £10,000 contribution up to 100% of costs available

For an unemployed disabled person:

•  No cost sharing

•  Contribution up to 100% of costs available

Cost sharing does not apply:

•  For any person with a disability who requires communication support at interview, 100% of costs met by AtW

•  If costs incurred for researching solutions for any person with a disability, 100% of costs met by AtW

For further information contact :

Access to Work Advisers

Disablement Advisory Service

5th Floor

Gloucester House

Chichester Street

Belfast

BT1 4RA

Tel: 028 9025 2317