Work and Access

Work and Access is a set of supports to help disabled people get a job or stay in work. It aims to remove or reduce barriers at work for disabled people.

Supports for Jobseekers, Employees or Self-Employed people

• Communication Support/ISL: Language access for interviews and in work
• Personal Reader: Someone to read to you if you are visually impaired
• Work Equipment: Tools or technology to help you do your job

Supports for employers

• Workplace Needs Assessment: Identifies what changes are needed to help a disabled employee
• In-Work Support: Helps the disabled person to do their job well
• Workplace Adaptation: Covers the cost of making necessary changes to the workplace
• Disability Equality and Inclusion Training: Provides training to help staff understand and support disabled people.

Each type of support has its own requirements. You can only receive funding if you meet them. The department’s officers will review your application and make the final decision. You can read the full details in the Operational Guidelines.

Work and Access replaced the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme. It was created based on recommendations from a review of these schemes.

Jobseekers, Employees and Self-Employed people

You can apply if you:

1. Are over 18 and under 70 and not getting a state pension
2. Work or plan to work in the Republic of Ireland in one of the following ways:

• full-time or part-time (at least 8 hours a week or 32 hours a month)
• self-employed
• on work experience for 6 months or more
• on an internship for 6 months or more
• in an apprenticeship
• applying for a job (you can apply for communication support or Irish Sign Language interpreting if you have a letter confirming a job interview)
• starting a new job (you or your new employer can apply for supports but can’t access these supports until you have started work

3. Have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your ability to work. The condition must be likely to last more than 12 months.

You must also:

• be getting a long-term disability payment

Or

• provide medical evidence of your condition stating that it is expected to last more than 12 months

You cannot apply if you:

• do unpaid work such as voluntary work

Or

• work in the public sector, as these costs should already be covered by your employer

Employers and Self-employed people

You can apply if you:

1. Are a private employer or self-employed person based in the Republic of Ireland. This includes:

• private companies
• community, not-for-profit, or voluntary organisation

2. Are a legal entity or a charity recognised by Revenue

3. Are tax compliant

Employers can apply for supports for current employees. If a person has accepted a job offer, you, as the employer, can apply and get approval before the employee starts work. However, the employee cannot receive the supports until they begin the job.

A Workplace Needs Assessment identifies changes needed to remove barriers for a disabled employee. An employer or self-employed person can apply for funding for this support.

You must hire a qualified specialist to carry out the assessment.

What funding or support is available?

• the scheme pays up to €2,500 towards the cost of the assessment
• the scheme also pays for up to 10 hours of Communication Support/ISL (Irish Sign Language interpreting) if needed to help the assessment take place

For more details, see the Communication Support/ISL section.

The assessment

The assessor must look at the disabled person’s needs, the job role, the disability and the workplace. They must consider the tasks involved in the job and any barriers the disabled person faces.

What the assessment must include

The assessment must:

• Describe each barrier the employee or self-employed person faces
• Give evidence-based recommendations
• Show what supports or training are needed, such as assistive technology, workplace adaptation, or providing In-Work Support
• be completed with the employer, the employee, and their advocate or representative, if appropriate

To put the recommendations in place, the employer and employee may apply for one or more of the supports under the scheme.

After getting a Workplace Needs Assessment report

You should review the recommendations carefully.

The employer does not have to follow the recommendations. The employer can only apply for more funding under Work and Access if the assessor has recommended a specific support.

Support options include:

• The employee can apply for Work Equipment, with support from the employer
• The employer can apply for In-Work Support and Workplace Adaptation Support

Sourcing an Assessor

You are responsible for finding the assessor. The assessor must be suitably qualified and experienced. They must understand disabilities and be aware of the latest technologies and advancements.

Suitably qualified assessors who are part of the employer’s staff or an associated company may complete the assessment; but they are not eligible for funding.

Suitably qualified specialists include:

• Occupational Therapist
• Occupational Psychologist
• Occupational Physician
• Occupational Health Nurse or other Occupational Health Services Professional
• Rehabilitation Nurse
• Ergonomics Specialist
• Chartered Physiotherapist of Ireland

The assessor should be registered with a relevant professional body such as:

· The Register of Health and Social Care Professionals (CORU)

· The Association of Occupational Therapists

How to qualify

You can get a Workplace Needs Assessment if you meet the general eligibility requirements for Work and Access.

How to apply

Employers must complete the Work and Access application form (WA2) and send it to us using one of the contact options below.

Contact

You can send your application or ask for more information by:

• contacting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office
• emailing WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• writing to: Employment Services Management Support Team, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13736, Co Louth, FREEPOST FDN7696

You can apply for funding for Communication Support/ISL interpreting if you are an employee, a self-employed person, or someone applying on their behalf. The support can be used for:

• job interviews
• job induction
• ongoing workplace communication

How to qualify

You can get Communication Support/ISL funding if you meet the general eligibility requirements for Work and Access and have a communication support need.

You can use this support if you:

• are Deaf or hard of hearing and need an ISL interpreter, lip-reader, or another type of interpreter (you do not need to show proof of deafness)

or

• have a disability or health condition and need communication support, for example a Lámh support worker

The ISL interpreter must be registered with the Regulatory Centre for Irish Sign Language Interpreters (RISLI).

The interpreter can attend in-person or online. The disabled person's choice of attendance format should be provided where possible.

Supports available

Pre-interview support: 1 hour

You can use this to pay for a 1-hour session with your interpreter before your job interview. This session helps you prepare and get familiar with each other.

Interview support: up to 3 hours

You can use this to pay for up to 3 hours of interpreter support for a job interview. There is no limit to the number of interviews you can attend.

To apply, you need a letter or email from the employer or recruiter confirming your interview.

Induction support: up to 12 hours

If you are new to your job, you can use this to pay for up to 12 hours of interpreter support during your induction in the first 12 months of starting. This applies if you start with a new employer or move to a new role with your current employer.

The employer must approve the application for induction support and ongoing communication support.

Ongoing support: up to 24 hours

If you are new to your job or already in a job, you can use this to pay for up to 24 hours of interpreter support during workplace communication over a 12-month period.

You can use this support as well as induction support.

Communication support for a Workplace Needs Assessment: up to 10 hours

This support is only for people who need communication support so a Workplace Needs Assessment can take place.

Communication support for In-Work Support: up to 30 hours

This support is only for people who need communication support for their In-Work Support because their Workplace Needs Assessment recommends it.

Applying for more than one support

You can apply for all of the communication supports. For example, you can apply for induction and In-Work Support as well as support for job interviews.

How to apply

Employees and self-employed people can apply for Communication Support/ISL for pre-interview, interview, induction and ongoing support.

To apply, you must complete the Work and Access application form (WA1).

Employers can apply for Communication Support/ISL for Workplace Needs Assessments and In-Work Support, if needed.

To apply, employers must complete the Work and Access application form (WA2).

Send the completed form to us using the contact details listed below.

Contact

You can send your application or ask for more information by:

• contacting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office
• emailing WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• writing to: Employment Services Management Support Team, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13736, Co Louth, FREEPOST FDN7696

An employer can apply for In-Work Support for a new or existing employee. A self-employed person who has a disability or health condition can also apply.

This funding can pay for a work coach, specialist or another support worker, such as a Lámh support worker. Their role is to help the person carry out their job or to support training for another position.

A Workplace Needs Assessment must take place before the person can get In-Work Support. The assessment must recommend this support before the employer can apply.

The assessment only makes recommendations. It does not approve funding.

The department must approve funding before any support can start.

Once approved, an employee or self-employed person can then get support from a qualified work coach, a specialist such as an Occupational Therapist, or other support worker such as Lámh support worker.

The employer must pay the service provider and give proof of payment to the department. The department will then pay the employer.

Supports available

The scheme can fund a work coach, specialist services, or other support such as support provided by a Lámh support worker.

If needed, communication support can also be used at the same time.

In-Work Support provides:

• up to €12,500 per year for a work coach, specialist support or other support such as Lámh support
• up to 30 contact hours of communication support with the In-Work Support provider, if needed

How to qualify

An employer or self-employed person can get In-Work Support if the employer and employee meet the general eligibility requirements for Work and Access and your Workplace Needs Assessment shows that the disabled employee or self-employed person need this support.

Finding a specialist support worker

When choosing a work coach, specialist, or Lámh support worker, the following rules apply:

• they must be suitably qualified or experienced
• they must have a proven record in occupational evaluation or workplace assessment
• they must have a good understanding of disabilities and how they affect work
• a work coach or specialist who works for the employer’s own company or an associated company cannot be funded through this scheme
• the cost should demonstrate value for money

Specialists may include:

• Occupational Therapist
• Occupational Psychologist
• Occupational Physician
• Occupational Health Nurse
• Ergonomic Specialist
• Chartered Physiotherapist who may provide once-off or occasional consultations

There is no pre-approved list of specialist providers, but they must be qualified and, where needed, registered with a relevant professional body. For example, this may include:

• The Register of Health and Social Care Professionals (CORU)
• The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

Training services for In-Work Support

You can get training from qualified training providers if you are an employee or self-employed person. The following conditions apply:

• The Workplace Needs Assessment must show that the person needs this training.
• The training must not already be available for free from the department or another state provider. State providers include Solas, Education and Training Boards, and Teagasc.

How to apply

The employer or self-employed person must complete the Work and Access application form (WA2).

Send the completed form to us using the contact details listed below.

Contact

You can send your application or ask for more information by:

• contacting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office
• emailing WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• writing to: Employment Services Management Support Team, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13736, Co Louth, FREEPOST FDN7696

A Personal Reader is someone who helps you with reading tasks that you need to do for your job.

You can apply for this support if:

• you are an employee or self‑employed, and
• you are blind or have a visual impairment, and
• you need help with reading as part of your work

Many people use reading software instead. You can apply for this software under Work Equipment if it suits your needs.

How to qualify

You can get Personal Reader funding if you meet the general eligibility requirements for Work and Access.

What support is available?

If you qualify, you can use this support to hire or contract a person or organisation as a Personal Reader if they are registered as a business and are tax compliant.

Work and Access pays the Personal Reader based on:

• the current minimum wage, and
• the level of support you need

Finding a Personal Reader

You must find your own Personal Reader. They do not need formal qualifications.

A Personal Reader cannot replace reading help you normally get from:

• work colleagues
• relatives
• friends

How to apply

To apply, you must complete the Work and Access application form (WA1).

Send the completed form to us using the contact details listed below.

If we approve your application, we will provide funding to cover the agreed cost of your Personal Reader.

At the end of each month you use this support, you must complete and return a Personal Reader support claim form so we can make the payment.

Contact

You can send your application or ask for more information by:

• contacting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office
• emailing WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• writing to: Employment Services Management Support Team, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13736, Co Louth, FREEPOST FDN7696

You can apply for funding to help pay for assistive equipment or technology you need to do your job. This applies if you are an employee or a self-employed person, and you need this equipment to work in your workplace or from home.

Note: If you need changes made to existing equipment, this is covered under the Workplace Adaptation support, not Work Equipment support.

The employer or self-employed person must support and sign off on the application to source and buy the approved equipment and claim reimbursement from the department.

In all cases, you keep ownership of the equipment unless it becomes part of the employer’s own equipment.

What the support cannot cover

Work Equipment funding cannot be used to:

· pay for equipment that employers normally provide to help with everyday job tasks

• cover the usual costs of setting up and running a business
• pay for job-specific equipment that employers usually provide
• meet legal obligations required under law, such as:

- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 - Health and Safety Authority (hsa.ie) (as amended)

- Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015

How to qualify

You can get Work Equipment funding if you meet the general eligibility requirements for Work and Access.

Supports available

You can get funding:

• for assistive equipment or technology, you need in your workplace, including specialist training to help you use the equipment, if needed, and
• for assistive equipment or technology, you need in your remote-working premises, including training

Examples of assistive equipment or technology include:

• specialised furniture
• alternative keyboards
• screen magnifiers
• induction loop systems
• telephones amplifiers
• sip and puff systems
• screen-reading software
• voice recognition software
• real time captioning systems
• licence renewal of assistive software

You can claim for software updates or software licence renewals each year. You must apply and get approval before your employer pays for the renewal.

Your employer must check that any assistive technology will work with your workplace devices and systems before buying it.

What funding is available?

The scheme pays:

• up to €12,000 for assistive equipment or technology used in the workplace, including training, if needed, and
• up to €12,000 for assistive equipment or technology used in remote-working premises, including training, if needed

How to apply

To apply, you must complete the Work and Access application form (WA1).

Send the completed form to us using the contact details listed below.

Contact

You can send your application or ask for more information by:

• contacting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office
• emailing WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• writing to: Employment Services Management Support Team, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13736, Co Louth, FREEPOST FDN7696

This support is for disabled people who need changes made to their workplace so they can start a job or stay in a job.

A Workplace Needs Assessment is required before you can apply.

An employer, with the employee’s agreement, or a self-employed person, can apply for funding. The funding helps pay for necessary changes to:

• equipment
• technology, or
• a business premises (not a person’s home).

Work and Access can pay up to €25,000 towards these changes.

After full approval, the employer must organise the work, pay for it, and then claim re-imbursement from Work and Access.

Examples of changes

Examples include:

• small building changes such as ramps or toilets
• alarm systems with flashing lights

What the support cannot be used for

Workplace adaption funding cannot be used to:

• pay for equipment or changes that employers would normally provide for any employee. This includes anything usually needed to carry out the tasks of the job
• cover the usual costs of setting up and running a business
• pay for supports required under law, such as:

- Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014

- S.I. No. 487/1997 Building Regulations 1997. In particular, Building Regulations 2010 Technical Guidance Document M

- Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (as amended)

- Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015 which including obligations for workplace or businesses that have public access

• fund changes to a person’s home even if it is their main place of work.

If you need changes to your home, you can apply for an Housing Adaptation Grant from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

How to qualify

You can get Workplace Adaptation funding if you meet the general eligibility requirements for Work and Access.

How to apply

To apply, you must complete the Work and Access application form (WA2).

Send the completed form to us using the contact details listed below.

Contact

You can send your application or ask for more information by:

• contacting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office
• emailing WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• writing to: Employment Services Management Support Team, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13736, Co Louth, FREEPOST FDN7696

An employer can apply for funding to help pay for Disability Equality and Inclusion Training for their staff.

How to qualify

To get funding for Disability Equality and Inclusion Training, the employer must meet the general eligibility requirements for Work and Access.

Training courses

The training courses should match the specific needs of the workplace - see training options below for more details.

Examples of eligible costs

Funding can cover:

• external training programmes or courses
• in-house training delivered by external trainers
• open learning or online training programmes
• materials needed for the courses such as manuals or access to online resources

Who can deliver the training?

The trainer or trainers should have:

• relevant qualifications or experience
• a clear understanding of the social model of disability
• strong knowledge of disability policy
• experience or awareness of disability and inclusion
• lived experience of disability or have developed the training with input from disabled people

Training options

There are three types of training that employers can choose from. The training should match the needs of the workplace and the staff.

1. General Disability Equality and Inclusion Training

The training must cover:

• information to help staff understand disabled people, the social model of disability and disability equality
• an overview of anti-discrimination and equal opportunities laws, and the rights of disabled people in employment, including reasonable accommodation
• information about different types of disabilities
• guidance on respectful, accessible, and inclusive communication, including the use of appropriate disability-related language
• good practices to help staff see disabled people as individuals with their own skills and abilities. This should include awareness exercises that challenge negative assumptions, stereotypes and attitudes, and
• information on how to include people with mental health difficulties in the workplace

2. Disability-specific training, for example:

This training focuses on a particular disability. Examples include:

• Irish Sign Language (ISL) training for an employee when a colleague or employer is Deaf
• Lámh training for an employee when a colleague or employer uses Lámh to communicate
• training on best practices for supporting people with specific disabilities, such as neurodiversity when a colleague or employer is neurodivergent

3. Inclusive recruitment and management training for managers

This training must include how to:

• reach disabled people during recruitment campaigns
• run fair and accessible application and interview processes
• talk about disability and disclosure with a candidate or employee
• consider requests for reasonable accommodations in the workplace, and
• recognise and address unconscious biases

What funding is available?

The support covers part of the cost of eligible training. The amount covered depends on the type of training and the trainer’s qualifications.

90% of eligible training costs

We will cover 90% of the cost when:

• the trainer or training organisation has a recognised training qualification or professional qualification linked to disabilities, and can show the knowledge and experience described in the Work and Access Operational Guidelines, or
• the training course is disability-related and recognised by an accredited training body in Ireland or the UK

80% of eligible training costs

We will cover 80% of the cost in all other cases where:

• the trainer or training course meets the standards set out in the Work and Access Operational Guidelines, but
• the trainer does not have a professional training qualification, or the course is not accredited

The employer can apply for training costing up to €20,000 over a 12-month period. This limit applies to all eligible training costs across the different training options.

Finding a trainer

The employer or organisation must find their own trainers. There is no pre-approved list of training providers.

How to apply

The employer or self-employed person must complete the Work and Access application form (WA2).

Send the completed form to us using the contact details listed below.

Contact

You can send your application or ask for more information by:

• contacting your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office
• Emailing WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• writing to: Employment Services Management Support Team, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13736, Co Louth, FREEPOST FDN7696

To apply, you must complete the Work and Access application form.

Application form for Work and Access Supports

Employer Application form for the Work and Access Supports

There are different requirements for each of the supports. Final approval of funding is based on meeting the requirements of the support you are applying for, which will be decided by the department’s designated officers. (Refer to Operational Guidelines)

Contact

You can find out more information about the supports by:

• Contacting your Local Intreo Centre or Branch Office
• emailing our central team at WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• writing to:

Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures for customers and employers to follow when making an application.

Operational Guidelines: Work and Access Supports