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Access to Work - does it work?

electra

Hi All

I'm in a horrible situation at work. I'm being disciplined for taking time off due to work-related stress.

I was thinking of applying to Access to Work for funding for money to pay for an external mentor. Does anyone have experience of getting help from Access to Work? Was the help hard to get and was it useful?

  • sorry to hear that, you need to tread carefully here. Keep copies of doctor's certificates for the time you have taken off and any letter from your employment about the diciplinary. If you are  not a member of a union or professional body, and one is available, join it. With these in place, if further down the line this leads to dismissal or redundancy, you will have a strong case for unfair dismissal.

  • mld said:

    You don't have to be unemployed to talk with the disability officer at the jobcentre, Personally, I have found them useful for disability rights when I've been in work.  They will do everything that they can to keep you in work.

    Good work contacting the Access to work scheme yourself.  I have also done that in the past, and it worked.

    Keep going,

    M.

    I agree with mld that you an be helped by the disability adviser at the job centre plus even if you are in work. I contacted mine before I left my last job, I wish I'd done it much sooner. Getting through the call centre system without a 'Claim' number requires persistence, patient explanation and much repetition of your NI number, or at least that was my experience.

    Good luck.

  • I had coping strategy sessions funded totally by Access to Work and they were great, although I only actually received a third of the time that I was officially supposed to get (not Access to Work's fault). It also took a few weeks from applying to Access to Work, to the sessions beginning.

    In your situation would Access to Work pay in full anything you need? If your employer has to foot some of the bill I'm wondering if that may ruffle feathers?

  • You don't have to be unemployed to talk with the disability officer at the jobcentre, Personally, I have found them useful for disability rights when I've been in work.  They will do everything that they can to keep you in work.

    Good work contacting the Access to work scheme yourself.  I have also done that in the past, and it worked.

    Keep going,

    M.

  • Thanks.

    What is the time limit?

    I'm not in touch with the Jobcentre as I'm already in work. I have given my employer the eligibility letter and contacted the scheme by email in case my employer does nothing about contacting them.

  • Yes, I have had access to work.  However, it was when I started work - they talked to my employers and we could have put in place some support, but the work place was too slow and the time limit came and went.  So I was cross.  Not access to work's fault but my employer's fault.

    Phone them up, or speak to you disbaility person at the job centre.  They are both there to help you.

    Good luck.

    M.