Access to Work and the Broadcasting and Creative Industries

Jobcentre Plus has worked in partnership with the Employers' Forum on Disability, the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network (BCIDN) and Shape to change its policy and the process for dealing with applications from the industry.

What this means in practice:

• To make an application for Access to Work support a disabled person working in the broadcasting and creative industries should contact the Operational Support Unit (OSU) covering the area where they live;
• Access to Work has put in place a dedicated Virtual Team of advisers located throughout Great Britain to develop specific knowledge about the industry with the help of the BCIDN. The OSU will allocate all ATW applications from people working in the broadcasting and creative industries to these advisers who will process the applications;
• Customers who require a Support Worker will be assessed at their initial application to see what help it's likely they will need in their ‘typical' job. Support will then be authorised over a three-year period meaning that should they move to a new employer, they have the assurance that they will already have some support in place;
• Freelance customers will be treated as self-employed, which means that they will own any equipment provided through Access to Work. This will allow them to take on further jobs knowing that they will have their equipment from day one;
• For employed customers where there is no requirement to cost-share with Access to Work, they can choose to order/purchase the equipment themselves and claim back the full grant from Access to Work. This will mean that they will own the equipment and can take it with them to a new job;
• If there is a requirement to cost-share towards equipment, then the customer can choose to order the equipment and meet any cost-share amount themselves and take ownership of the equipment; or
• Where the employer cost-shares (and therefore owns the equipment), they will be encouraged to allow the customer to take the equipment with them should they move to another job.

These changes were implemented nationally from 1st July 2008

Access to Work - Services Available and Eligibility 

Access to Work helps disabled customers by:

• Providing support to overcome work-related obstacles resulting from disability;
• Enabling disabled customers to work on a more equal basis with their non-disabled colleagues;
• Encouraging employers to recruit and retain disabled people by offering practical help.

To be eligible for help, a customer must:

• Have a disability or health condition as defined under the DDA that affects their ability to carry out their job;
• Be over 16 years old;
• Be in, or about to start, paid employment (including self-employment);
• Live and work in Great Britain; and
• Not be claiming Incapacity Benefit once they are in work. (With the exception of Permitted Work)

There are six main elements of support through Access to Work, these being: -

• Adaptations to Premises and Equipment, Helps modify premises and adapt equipment to make it accessible for a disabled employee.
• Communication Support at Interview, A grant for an interpreter or other human support  at job interview for someone who has difficulties in communicating with others
• Special Aids and Equipment,Provides grants towards aids and equipment in the workplace which are needed as a direct result of disability.
• Support Worker, Provides human support in the workplace (such as BSL Interpreter) to allow the person to access their  work environment.
• Travel to Work, Provides a grant towards the extra costs of travel to and from work where a person cannot use available public transport as a result of their disability or health condition, or helps with adaptations to vehicles.

Travel in Work, Provides a grant towards the extra cost of travel incurred whilst at work where a person cannot use available public transport as a result of their disability or health condition or helps with adaptations to vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Access to Work Delivered?

The programme has three dedicated Operational Support Units (OSUs), located in Cardiff, Glasgow and London.  They are responsible for taking telephone applications and processing subsequent Access to Work claims.

The programme's network of Access to Work Advisers, are located mainly in Jobcentre Plus offices.  Once the AtW application has been made, the OSU will allocate an AtW Adviser to manage the application.  Support is determined individually by the Adviser and, if appropriate, by a contracted specialist third-party assessor.

How do I make an application for AtW Support?

As the programme is customer focused, the disabled person should contact the appropriate Operational Support Unit to make the application. Usually the appropriate OSU covers the geographical area of your main workplace location.

I work in the Broadcasting and Creative Industries. I understand the application process is slightly different for me.

Yes, the process is different. Access to Work has been working in partnership with the Employers' Forum on Disability and the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network.  Together we realised, that people working in the Broadcasting and Creative Industries face some unique issues when applying for AtW support due to the nature of their work. For disabled people working in this industry the appropriate OSU will be based onwhere the individual's home address is located