Press Release
We are pleased to see that the Department of Work and Pensions has decided to significantly raise the Access to Work cap. This will help deaf people whose first language is British Sign Language (BSL) to access the communication support so vital to enabling them to thrive and succeed in the workplace. The increase in […]
Read MoreTHIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED
A SURVEY ON THE ATW (Access to Work) CAP IMPORTANT NOTE: The ATW CAP survey has been created to provide more information about the effects of capped ATW budgets on the working and professional lives of Deaf people. The survey is definitely for you if:- You have an ATW award and Your allocation has already been capped, […]
Read MoreDWP pilots Access to Work personal budgets
On Monday the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, announced a pilot of personal budgets for the Access to Work scheme. In a statement to Parliament he said: “We are trialling a new feature of the access to work scheme. From today we shall be testing the use of personal budgets, which […]
Read MoreDWP trials access by telephone for sign language users
People who use British Sign Language (BSL) can now contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) via telephone. DWP has begun a six month pilot of a service that allows people whose first or only language is BSL to contact DWP about Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (65+), Disability Living Allowance (under 65) and […]
Read MoreDWP piloting online access to Access to Work
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is looking for new deaf and deafblind applicants to help it pilot its online application system for Access to Work DWP believes deaf and deafblind people will particularly benefit from the new online service. They will appreciate UK Council on Deafness members advising new deaf applicants to email ATW.DIGITALFIRSTCONTACT@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK saying they want to […]
Read MoreUK Council on Deafness welcomes Access to Work research but remains concerned about cap on awards
The UK Council on Deafness welcomes the Department for Work and Pensions’ desire to establish the return on investment delivered by Access to Work. The need for research was identified in the equality analysis for the future of Access to Work. It said, “establishing the return on investment delivered by Access to Work will build […]
Read MoreAccess to Work to change guidance on ‘additionality’
Access to Work is to rewrite its guidance on ‘additionality’ that has led to some deaf people losing all financial support for sign language interpreting. The decision came after the UK Council on Deafness and others brought it to the attention of officials at the Department of Work and Pensions. Last week they released a […]
Read MoreSelect committee concerned by government action on Access to Work
The chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Dame Anne Begg MP, has expressed concern about government action on Access to Work. Dame Anne wrote to the Minister for Disabled People after he told her he wouldn’t be responding formally to their report on Access to Work until after the general election. Dame Anne was also concerned that […]
Read MoreUK Council on Deafness welcomes Work and Pensions Committee focus on impact of Access to Work changes on deaf people
The UK Council on Deafness has welcomed the Work and Pensions Committee’s focus on the problems deaf people have faced due to the way Access to Work has been operating. The report of the Committee’s inquiry into the scheme, published this morning, specifically mentions how the application of the ’30 hour rule’ has threatened the […]
Read MoreUK Council on Deafness welcomes changes to Access to Work
The UK Council on Deafness has welcomed the Minister for Disabled People’s announcement of immediate changes to Access to Work. David Buxton, chair of the UK Council on Deafness Access to Work group and chief executive of the British Deaf Association, said: “In particular, we are glad people will soon be able to contact Access […]
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