Government extends Access to Work scheme to support disabled people during pandemic – This

Chloe_Scope · August 2020

Government extends Access to Work scheme to support disabled people during pandemic – This

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced an extension to the Access to Work scheme to give disabled people financial support to work from home, access specialist equipment or to help cover transport costs.

The Access to Work scheme is designed to help people who are disabled or have a physical or mental health condition stay in employment.

You can read the full article here: Government extends Access to Work scheme to support disabled people during pandemic – This

Has your job changed due to the pandemic? Do you need extra support to return to the workplace? Let us know in the comments below!

[Deleted User] · November 2020

Meh, I've been saying for most of the last 10 years and beyond that current Equality laws which are supposed to protect disabled people against discrimination aren't worth the paper they're printed on because the useless disability bashing Tories, voted in by Daily Mail readers, will never enforce such laws.

Let's look at the evidence, there are people out there who have been found "fit to work" by the ATOS Clowns, when they are clearly not, and then they have killed themselves as they were deemed able to work and their benefits were stopped.

Yup, the DWP has blood on its hands IMO.

But will they ever be took to task for that? Under a Tory government? You're joking right?!

LuckeeBlackCat1 · November 2020

There must be so few sick and disabled people are employed, so it may be easy for DWP to say they support. But how many really benefit from it? I think it's just joke!! I agree with MrAllen1976. Tory is genocidal, eugenic murderers! How many were killed or committed suicide or became homeless? Tory DWP, Atos etc just want to cut our benefits and kill us off, but we are not silenced! I joined Disability Labour Party! Read DPAC!

I don't / can't / want to be employed. Never again!! I was still able person last time I was made redundant and harassment at work demanding better performance while I was coping with domestic violence and eventually developed PTSD, depression, ME/CFS, tyep2 diabetes etc. I took them to Employment Tribunal!
I want to be self-employed (again! I did it before with Incapacity Benefit) with Permitted Work scheme while with ESA Support Group work from home / garden shed. Few years ago when I contacted Scope for advice becoming self-employed they didn't have such, and I was very disappointed. I read on website recently but still hasn't find agency to help me.

Self-employment however small is for sick and disabled people be own boss and do something worthwhile for ourselves not for any employer!! They won't hire us or make any adjustment, only discriminate and judge prejudice!! What about BAME, female, sick and disabled, older, former migrant??? I have no chance getting hired. I already suffered rejections when I was healthy, qualified, skilled, educated at best art school and younger by many such employers! Infuriating!

Ross_Alumni · November 2020

Hi @LuckeeBlackCat1

The world of work can be a tricky one to navigate, and I completely understand why you would much prefer to be self employed, that style of working would suit so many disabled people.

Speaking from my own experience of the Access to Work scheme, which is available for those who are self employed and those who are employed, as long as you are honest with them about the assistance you might need to do your job then it's a valuable resource to have available. It's better to have a think beforehand of what you might need and suggest it to them, rather than them coming up with the ideas themselves.

They can take a while to do things, much like any DWP service to be honest, but once you get the supportin place it's a great thing to have there, because it will fund a lot of equipment that might be essential for you.

If you have ideas about the sort of work you want to go into , then you absolutely have the ability to become self-employed and I'm sure it would be a great way to work for you. Scope do have a page on becoming self employed as a disabled person, as well as another about how benefits might work for you if you are self-employed. We also have a variety of services designed to help disabled people prepare for, and get in to, work, which you can read about here.

Can I ask, are you currently able to manage your mental health? Are you receiving support for it?

LuckeeBlackCat1 · November 2020

Ross_Scope Thanks for your comment.
I think my current support needs is for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. So misunderstood this physical illness and lack of energy rather than mental health. My Mobility on PIP was reduced to nil because they don't understand CFS/ME. I don't have Social Services Personal Budget may need tackle again for third time. Lack of physical support by PA or housekeeper type I had to spend my precious little energy on stupid chores that exhaust me. My flat is mess, as I live alone, thus no time for my creative work - self-employment. I rather hire PA or someone to do boring housework so I can make design, art work if I got support budget grant etc by scheme. My talent and skill and experience are wasted it infuriate me! It's not good for my self-esteem. Access to Work or new Intensive Personalised Employment Support now seem possibility. I still fear talking to Job Centre for referral, they will think my health is suddenly improved and ESA Support Group can be cut and get upset. I hated Job Focused interviews with ESA WRAG just torturous but no real support.
Last time I became self-employed was 2010 - 2013 probably Labour gov with Incapacity Ben I had Permitted Work with agency support, all free of course long time ago. There was Business Link, local enterprise centre filled my forms, all free. I meant agency was gov appointed contractors paid by tax / budget. Why any employment agency charge unemployed disabled people getting advice on how to find jobs or business planning? I think it was Reed? I need to find who deliver nowadays. Also get advocate to help me approach job centre.

[Deleted User] · December 2020

I trust the local Job Centre Plus as far as I could throw one of the fools who call themselves "Advisers", and that's not half an inch! Trust me back in the late '90s I was on Jobseeker's, just before I was diagnosed with Asperger's, and I was being literally sent for pointless interviews for jobs that in most cases had already gone but had noit been removed from the "job boards" (They were not online back then like they are now) the final straw was going for a job answering the phones in a Taxi place in s5, I didn't want the job but I hadn't applied for anything for a month and they were making noises about sanctions like they do so I thought blow it I'll go for this, I got there and they'd given the job to a 16 year old on New Deal!

Naturally I blew my top and went straight down to Hillsborough Job Centre and told them to shove their poxy 35 quid a week Dole money where it doesn't shine and I was coming OFF JSA effective immediately!

And things still haven't changed 20 years later IMO, I've had many a meeting with worse than useless (and that's being kind) Disability Employment Advisors at the local Job Centres and still don't have a job, not even a voluntary one at the moment.

Ross_Alumni · December 2020

Hi @MrAllen1976

Have you taken a look at any of Scope's employment support services? There might be something there that would work for you.

Apologies if already have in the past.

Government extends Access to Work scheme to support disabled people during pandemic – This

Government extends Access to Work scheme to support disabled people during pandemic – This

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