Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work Justin Tomlinson has finally emerged from wherever he’s been hiding to announce a funding initiative for those disabled people who are unable to return to their place of work and want help to work from home.
This is an extension of the Access to Work scheme and includes support for special equipment, travel costs, PA support etc., for those who are extremely vulnerable, have severe mental health conditions or have a physically impairment.
The Minister said applications for the grants will be fast-tracked for those with severe health conditions. He added: “In these unprecedented times, it is absolutely right that we continue to support disabled people to pursue employment without barriers”.
Disabled people will be able to use the cash to buy specialist equipment, such as a screen reader, video remote interpreting, or support worker services, to enable them to do their job from home. Previously, the cash could only be used for support in the workplace or transport purposes.
For those people who are anxious about returning to work and need support, you can also get mental health support through Access to Work with a tailored package of support for up to nine months.
Hmmm … we’ll wait to see just how successful disabled people are at getting this new grant and whether they have to jump through the usual hoops to get it!
Description of cartoon for those reading screen reading software
A white male in a grey suit is standing in front of two disabled people with a flaming hoop in his hand. His other hand is holding a form that reads ‘access to work grant’. The two disabled people, a woman of restricted growth and a male wheelchair user are looking perplexed. The man with the suit is saying to them: “You should be getting used to jumping through hoops by now!”
Crippen Cartoons 