Access to Work - timescale question.

Monkeyballs

Hi,

I have been on long term sick leave due to a back injury but hope to be able to return in the new year (allowing time for work place adaptions to be made etc).

My real problem is that I can't walk very far, I can't use my bike, I don't drive and I can't use the bus as vibrations from it cripple me and make me physically ill

I have been told about something called 'Access to Work' and I've checked it out on the DWP website and it sounds good as it will hopefully cover the £80 per week taxi fares to and from the office but I can't figure out when I should apply?

On the DWP site it says I can't claim while I'm getting ESA (I am, it's contributions based if it makes any difference) but obviously won't be when I go back even though it will be financially painful in the second month as my first month is a therapeutic return and likely to be maybe 10 hours per week so I will have low pay and no ESA to rely on during the second month (or I assume this to be the case).

Does anyone know if I should apply now in advance or do I need to wait until I go back? I'm obviously worried about costs and need to understand what I may be able to claim... I don't even know if I need to pay upfront and then claim back or if they give me enough to pay my way and use? I don't have much in the bank and would ideally eat rather than use the money to pay to get into work LOL

Thanks in advance for your replies

MB

Monkeyballs

Oh, I should add that I have tried to call the DWP to find out but seem to just get stuck on hold all the time... I'll obviously keep trying but hoped someone here may know

Ta

Icequeen99

I haven't dealt with A2W for some time, but back when I did i believe the people I encountered paid for the taxi and then had to claim it back with receipts.

I think you will need to speak to JC+.

Are you aware you may have to contribute the normal travel cost (in your case probably the cost of public transport)?

IQ

sheramber

how to claim

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/how-to-claim

Monkeyballs

Thanks for the replies

Icequeen99 wrote: »

I haven't dealt with A2W for some time, but back when I did i believe the people I encountered paid for the taxi and then had to claim it back with receipts.

I think you will need to speak to JC+.

Are you aware you may have to contribute the normal travel cost (in your case probably the cost of public transport)?

IQ

Hi IQ,

Honestly I had not even heard about it until very recently so know very little about it... I read somewhere that I'm able to get costs covered by JC+ and my employer and the %age split depends on the company size (my employer is pretty massive, ie. 9k+ employed in the UK alone or was unless they laid more people off while I was on leave lol).

If I just had to cover the cost of public transport then that would be ok as I could travel to and from work for just £12 per week using a week pass for the bus. You're right though, I need to just keeping trying to get through to JC+

sheramber wrote: »

how to claim

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/how-to-claim

Hi Sheramber,

Yeah, I got that link which is where I got most of what I already know from but it doesn't (or I didn't see) mention anything about when to claim or how the process works in practice... Thanks anyway

I guess all will become clear in good time, but I'm a planner and like to know everything yesterday!

MB

sheramber

Monkeyballs wrote: »

Thanks for the replies



Hi IQ,

Honestly I had not even heard about it until very recently so know very little about it... I read somewhere that I'm able to get costs covered by JC+ and my employer and the %age split depends on the company size (my employer is pretty massive, ie. 9k+ employed in the UK alone or was unless they laid more people off while I was on leave lol).

If I just had to cover the cost of public transport then that would be ok as I could travel to and from work for just £12 per week using a week pass for the bus. You're right though, I need to just keeping trying to get through to JC+



Hi Sheramber,

Yeah, I got that link which is where I got most of what I already know from but it doesn't (or I didn't see) mention anything about when to claim or how the process works in practice... Thanks anyway

I guess all will become clear in good time, but I'm a planner and like to know everything yesterday!

MB

click on the link for the eligibilty letter


What happens next?
When you have a start date for work, or if
you are already in
a job, you will
need to get in touch with your nearest c
ontact centre to apply for Access to
Work. A list of contact centres can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/access-to-
work/how-to-claim
As each case is different, an adviser will speak to you and your employer to
help work out what support you need to help you do your job.
Yours faithfully
Access to Work