Face to face appointments that relate to Access to Work (NI) have been temporarily suspended. Payments to participants on the programme will continue to be processed by a limited number of available staff and contingencies have been put in place to ensure this continues.
The programme works with a number of key stakeholders who provide support to Access to Work (NI) participants and subsequently this may change the level of support available to all participants due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
How Access to Work (NI) can help
Access to Work (NI) is available to overcome the practical problems caused by disability. It offers advice and help in a flexible way that can be tailored to suit the needs of an individual in a particular job or getting to and from work.
It can also contribute towards the additional approved costs that arise. Personal and Business benefit are taken into account in all cases.
Access to Work (NI) can help towards the cost of:
- communication support for deaf people or people who have a hearing impairment and need a communicator in the workplace or at interview
- provision of special aids and equipment to suit particular work needs arising from disability
- adaptations to premises and equipment in the workplace to help an employee with disabilities
- support if practical help is needed because of a disability, either at work or getting to and from work
- support when a person with a disability incurs extra costs in travelling to and from work because of disability
- support to assist employers where other additional costs arise because of disability - for example, extra 'in-work' travel costs, or provision of disability awareness training
Apply to Access to Work (NI)
For more information and to apply for help through this programme, contact the Department for Communities:
- Health&WorkSupportCo-ordination@communities-ni.gov.uk
- alternatively you can also contact a work coach in your local Jobs and Benefits office.
The application must be made by the person with the disability. A work coach can contact your local Access to Work team for you or give you their contact details. An Access to Work adviser will normally visit your place of work and advise on the most cost effective solution.
Help will be approved for as long as it is required up to a maximum of three years. After that, if support is required to continue it will be considered under the rules of the programme in operation at that time.