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Access to Work scheme not reaching all disabled people

19/12/2014

Some MPs have claimed that large numbers of disabled people are missing out on government support to help them into work.

A report from the Work and Pensions Select Committee found that the governments Access to Work programme has not received enough funding or publicity, and many disabled people are still unaware of it. MPs are also worried that the people in charge of the scheme often failed to understand the needs of disabled people.

The scheme helps disabled people get back into work by paying for specialist aids, equipment, building adaptations and support workers. It has managed to help 35,000 disabled people get or maintain a job this year, which is 5,000 more than two years ago.

The MPs found that where the Access to Work scheme was properly implemented, it transformed the lives of disabled people, many who would have been unable to have a job without it, but there were also key problems in the scheme. MPs believe staff in the scheme showed "unacceptable lack of disability awareness" and called for staff to be given additional training.

There was also a "misperception" that the scheme only provided physical aids, equipment and transport for people with physical disabilities, the report stated.

Dame Anne Begg, Labour MP and chairman of the committee, said:

"Access to Work's modest budget risks an approach which seeks to boost the numbers helped by Access to Work by bearing down on the awards of people whose support needs happen to be high cost, including those who use British Sign Language"

A spokesperson for Access to Work said:

‪"This week we announced further improvements to the service and we have also committed an additional £15m to ensure even more people can benefit"

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