Access to Work

What is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a government funded scheme that is designed to give disabled people the support and tools they need to get work, stay in work, or be self-employed.

It has proven very successful as a taxpayer funded scheme, as previous estimates stated that the government get back £2 for every £1 spent on Access to Work, by enabling disabled people to get and maintain work.

In recent years, changes to the scheme have made the application process longer and more complex. For the latest guidance and support navigating Access to Work, we recommend checking out the Access to Work Collective, a dedicated community providing advice and practical tips for applicants.

How they can help

Access to Work can support things like:

Job interview support
Workplace adaptions such as specialist desks, chairs, keyboards/mice or software required to work
A support worker to enable a disabled person to do tasks required to do their job such as typing, scribing or setting up equipment
Travel to and from work such as taxis, if public transport is not accessible
Powered wheelchairs and other mobility equipment, if there is a case that a powerchair is required to do your job.

Access to Work Application Process

Online Application

The online application process is fairly straightforward and asks questions about you, your disability

and how it affects you, your work and how you work, and what support you are looking for. Only general information is required at this stage and it should take 20-30 minutes to complete. A powered wheelchair comes under the specialist equipment section.

Case Manager Assigned

Your application will be assigned a case manager who will normally be in touch within a few days. They will usually ask for a call but you can ask to communicate by email if you find that easier. Your case manager will ask for more details about what support you need and how it will help you work. It’s important to be specific here about what you need and why you need it. Access to Work is there to support you in work, so any details you give must be directly related to enabling you to do your job.

Decision and Next Steps

If your application is approved, you will receive an award letter and a claim form. The claim form is what allows the money to be paid, and you can specify that this is paid directly to us, or to your employer or company if they are funding part of the cost.

If you are declined, then you have the right to appeal the decision.

What you need for the application

In the case of a powered wheelchair, they will ask you to obtain three different powerchair quotes, this is your opportunity to identify exactly what you need.

If there legitimately is only one product that meets all of your needs, you can justify why you need that product and you have not found any other product that meets your needs. Below are some examples that other customers have used to justify why they need a Series 5.

Please note, these are just examples and you must create your own justifications that are directly related to your work:

A customer required the Series 5 battery range of 40km on single charge, much more than other chairs, meeting their daily need for commuting to London and working and moving around the city
A customer spent a lot of their time working outdoors, The Series 5 is the only weatherproof and fully waterproof powerchair available, suiting their work outside
A customer required a chair they could use indoors, on public transport and outdoors on rough terrain such as building sites. The Series 5 is 650mm wide, suitable for indoor use in the office, fitting permitted public transport dimensions whilst still be usable on building sites. All other chairs that are usable on building sites are much wider so couldn't be used indoors or on public transport
A customer travelled a lot overnight for work, they found it very difficult to pack external chargers and the Series 5 is the only powerchair with an onboard charger
A customer flew a lot for work and the Series 5 is the only powerchair with a dedicated flight mode for air travel
A customer led workshops for children and required the seat lift in order to effectively supervise the room

Social and Domestic Contribution

Access to Work will fund the portion of the cost of the powerchair that is equivalent to your days of work. For example, if you work 4 days a week, they will fund 4/7ths or roughly 57% of the cost.

They expect that the powerchair will also be used outside of work, so they expect you to cover the balance under what’s called the Social and Domestic Contribution.

We have seen some customers fund this themselves, some have had their employer fund it and some have had a charitable donation, or a mix of all three.

What our community says

Case Study 03

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Case Study 02

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Katharina’s Case Study

Katharina has been a powerchair user for over 20 years. Energetic, determined and fiercely independent, she’s always looked for equipment that supports her lifestyle rather than limits it.

Travel & Terrain

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Video Guides

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FAQ

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Owner Info

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Common questions, simple answers.

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions. If you can’t find an answer, please get in touch

What are the advantages of choosing a powerchair over a mobility scooter?

Powerchairs and mobility scooters are very different products and it’s important that you choose the right option for your needs. A powerchair gives you much more comfort and support, particularly if you have complex postural needs, and is the better choice if you need a product for frequent use. Powerchairs also have a much smaller turning circle which means they can be used indoors and outdoors as they have far better manoeuvrability.

Can I travel on holiday with a powerchair?

Yes, you can definitely travel with a powerchair! Our founder, Alex has travelled to over 70 countries with his Series 5, which has influenced a lot of the features and design of the chair. There are extra steps you need to take when travelling with a powerchair, like providing information to the airline. Check out Alex’s ultimate guide to travelling by air with a powered wheelchair here (link to air travel guide).

Why choose a Series 5?

The Series 5 powered wheelchair has been created with just one thing in mind – freedom. Because unlike most other powerchairs on the market, the Series 5 design team is led by a powerchair user who understands your frustrations.

Where are you located?

Our head office is based in Glasgow, Scotland but if you would like to try the Series 5 then we offer nationwide test drives. We believe that these are best done in the environments which are most important to you, so we’ll come to you! Whether that’s at your home, local park or workplace, we’re happy to visit you anywhere that is convenient to you.