Access to Work

ladybelle

Thankyou. I had the first call with them this week. My disabilty advisor came to my current workplace and set the call up and I spoke with them and was told to get 3 quotes.
It also has to be a woman, and I also need to find a driver that has a car that doesnt automatically lock me in as I completely freak out and panic.
I was told that I had to pay the taxi myself and then claim it back from Access to Work ? I had no clue it would be quite such a performance !

dori2o

ladybelle wrote: »

Thankyou. I had the first call with them this week. My disabilty advisor came to my current workplace and set the call up and I spoke with them and was told to get 3 quotes.
It also has to be a woman, and I also need to find a driver that has a car that doesnt automatically lock me in as I completely freak out and panic.
I was told that I had to pay the taxi myself and then claim it back from Access to Work ? I had no clue it would be quite such a performance !

When looking for quotes be sure to ask the taxi company if they will set up an account for you. That way you can use the service and when the invoice comes from the taxi company you can get the money paid by access to work who can either pay the taxi company direct or pay you and you then pay the taxi company.

ladybelle

I kind of expected to have to pay each journey as I make it with the taxi driver and then claim back the money from Access to work separately ? I still dont quite see how it's all going to work out.
I understand it's the difference between bus transport and what it costs for a taxi ? then my employer will pay some of that and then I have to pay the remainder ?
How do they work out who pays what ? Is there a percentage criteria somewhere ?
I know which taxi I want to use, as it's a local woman who I am familiar with and who I can can cope with going with, car doesnt lock me in etc. She's said the fare will be approx £7, but I know the bus fare is about £2.50 ? so I guess the calculation will be the remaining £4.50 ?? and that's only one way !

dori2o

ladybelle wrote: »

I kind of expected to have to pay each journey as I make it with the taxi driver and then claim back the money from Access to work separately ? I still dont quite see how it's all going to work out.
I understand it's the difference between bus transport and what it costs for a taxi ? then my employer will pay some of that and then I have to pay the remainder ?
How do they work out who pays what ? Is there a percentage criteria somewhere ?
I know which taxi I want to use, as it's a local woman who I am familiar with and who I can can cope with going with, car doesnt lock me in etc. She's said the fare will be approx £7, but I know the bus fare is about £2.50 ? so I guess the calculation will be the remaining £4.50 ?? and that's only one way !

As I said see if you can arrange to have an account with the taxi company. That way you make the journeys each week/month and the fares are paid in one lump sum once you have received the funds from Access to Work.

Scully38

ladybelle wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience of this service ? Is it hard to get sorted or funding ?
I am being helped by a Disability Advisor and it is sounding really long winded and complicated. I had meetings with my HR after occupational health report, and the advisor came in with me, and at that point he said he was sure I would be able to get support so I agreed to try and get to my new job site, and it's supposed to be starting in July but he said today it wouldnt be sorted that quickly, and he says I need a further medical report from my GP and I have to make a statement too.
I'm worried now maybe I wont be able to get it sorted ?
Has anyone else been successful ?

I've used Access to Work a few times and they've been brilliant with me. When I rang them initially I explained my disabilities and told them where I worked and what I did. I had an assessor come out to where I work and they went through what my needs were, what help I needed to do my job, they measured me for the adaptions and then told me they'd be in touch with what I needed within a few weeks.

I got an email from them and letter explaining the costs and the equipment I would need. As I applied for ATW immediately on starting a new job, the cost was met by ATW, had I waited, some of the cost would have to come from the employer.

Once I sent my details of to the supplier, I received the equipment within a couple of weeks.

ATW were very professional and very helpful and speedy! I recommend them to anyone needing help in the workplace.