Claiming Access to Work during the coronavirus outbreak
18 August 2020
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has updated its guidance in relation to claiming Access to Work during the outbreak of coronavirus.
Individuals can still get help from Access to Work if they have a disability or mental health condition that makes it difficult for them to complete their job. They may be able to get help with working from home, or at their normal workplace, and in some scenarios, a combination of both. For those who are prevented from using public transport due to their disability, and a healthcare professional confirms this, then funding may be made available for extra travel costs.
Anyone employing their own support worker who has additional costs for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be able to request funding from Access to Work to assist with this. Access to Work may also provide funding for remote support services, including video remote interpreting or British Sign Language interpreting.
Anyone who is no longer working cannot claim help from Access to Work, but if they already have an Access to Work award, they can start using it again when they resume working.
The DWP is currently prioritising grants to be paid out for new claims from critical workers, anybody in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and anybody who is due to begin work within the next four weeks.
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication. For all the latest information, news and resources on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting payroll professions, visit our Coronavirus hub.