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Employment and Education?

1. What does it mean if I see the Disability Symbol on a job advert?

It means the employer will guarantee to interview you if you meet the minimum criteria for that job. Find out from the employer what the minimum criteria are. That way, you’ll have a good idea of whether it’s worth applying and what to expect.

2. Where can I get a list of employers who are Symbol users?
For technical reasons the list isn’t currently available on this website. A list of national and local symbol users is available from your Disability Employment Adviser (DEA). You can contact the DEA through your local Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus office.

3. I have a disability and I’m having difficulty finding work. Where can I get some help?
Contact your Jobcentre Plus or Jobcentre and ask to make an appointment with the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA). The DEA can discuss your employment situation with you and agree the most appropriate type of support to assist you into employment.

4. Are there any Tax Credits for disabled people?
From April 2003 two new tax credits, a Child Tax Credit and a Working Tax Credit were introduced to replace the existing tax credits: Working Families’ Tax Credit, Disabled Person’s Tax Credit and the Children’s Tax Credit. Both of these new credits are administrated by and claimed from HM Revenue & Customs.

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) replaces the child-related payments in Working Families’ Tax Credit, Disabled Person’s Tax Credit, the Children’s Tax Credit, Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The Working Tax Credit (WTC) is a tax credit to top up the earnings of working people and broadly replaces the adult support within Working Families’ Tax Credit, Disabled Person’s Tax Credit and the New Deal 50plus Employment Credit, and extends some support to adults without children or a disability. It continues to include help with the costs of childcare.

5. Who can claim Working Tax Credit?
You can claim working Tax Credit if:

• You are aged 16 or over, and
• You work at least 16 hours a week, and
• You and your partner are responsible for a child or young person, or
• You have a disability which puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job, or
• You or your partner are aged 50 or more and are returning to work after a spell on qualifying out-of-work benefits.
If you do not have children or a disability that puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job, you can also claim Working Tax Credit if:
• You are aged 25 or over and
• You work at least 30 hours a week.

The Working Tax Credit is available to self-employed people and employees. For more information, telephone:
Tax Credits Helpline Number: 0845 300 3900
Textphone for people with hearing or speech impairment: 0845 300 3909

6. I’m an employed disabled person and I’m concerned about losing my job because of the effects of my disability on the work I do. Who can give me advice about keeping my job?
Contact the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your Jobcentre Plus office or Jobcentre. The DEA can give practical advice to you (and your employer if appropriate) on job redesign and adjustments within the workplace. The DEA may also suggest a period of Work Preparation to help overcome the difficulties that are affecting your work.

7. Should I declare my disability to an employer when applying for jobs?
Under the Disability Discrimination Act it is unlawful for employers to discriminate against disabled people in their recruitment and selection procedures. Whilst it isn’t unlawful to ask questions about health or disability on an application form, or to issue a separate health questionnaire, it is unlawful to use the responses in a discriminatory way.
Discuss this with a Disability Employment Adviser. They will be able to give advice on the best way to explain your suitability for a job and stress your abilities in any job applications you make.

8. I’ve been offered a job but my future employer and I are concerned about whether it’s the right one for me. Is there any type of help available?
If you or your employer have concerns about whether the job is the right one for you, find out about the Job Introduction Scheme (JIS) from the DEA at your Jobcentre Plus office or Jobcentre. JIS pays a grant of £75 a week to the employer for the first 6 weeks of your employment to assist with employment and training costs. JIS must be applied for before you start the job.

9. I have a disability, how can the Access to Work programme help me?
If your disability or health condition is likely to last for 12 months or longer and it affects the type of work you do (including self employment), you may be eligible for some practical help in the workplace. Contact your DEA, who can put you in touch with an AtW Adviser.

10.
I am about to start a training course but need special equipment to help me cope. Can Access to Work help?
Access to Work (AtW )is available for people in or about to start paid employment. Talk to the training provider about what help they are able to provide during your training.

11. If the Access to Work programme is providing me with equipment in the workplace, how long will I have to wait for it?
The aim is to get you the help you need in the shortest possible time. If it’s likely to take some time, temporary alternative solutions can be explored by the AtW Adviser, together with you and your employer.

12. I have a disability and I’ve heard about WORKSTEP. How will I know if it’s suitable for me?
he DEA in your Jobcentre Plus office or Jobcentre can tell you more about WORKSTEP which is for disabled people who are facing more complex employment barriers because of their disability.

13. I’ve heard about the Remploy Interwork Scheme. How is it relevant to me?
Interwork is a three way partnership between an employer, a disabled person and Remploy. Remploy works closely with the individual ensuring they receive the correct support in order to ensure they can secure employment within the open market. They may receive assistance with recruitment, training, job search and job clubs, job coaching etc. Remploy also works closely with employers in order to ensure our clients are able to gain employment in a wide variety of industrial sectors and occupational roles. To find out more about Remploy, visit their website at www.remploy.co.uk or you can phone them on 02476 515 800.

14. Do the Disability Service web pages have any links to disability organisations and other websites?
Through the main Jobcentre Plus webpages, we are linked to a number of sites including: RNIB, RNID, Department for Work and Pensions and Learning and Workbank websites. Our WORKSTEP pages are also linked to the Remploy webpages.
Although we are not directly linked to a large number of websites, you can link with a wide range of disability organisations by visiting the Disability Rights Commission website at www.drc-gb.org

15. What if I’m recently disabled or my disability is causing additional difficulties in finding or keeping a job?
Disability Employment Advisers (also called DEAs) provide specialist support to people who are recently disabled, or those whose disability or health condition has deteriorated and who need employment advice.

They provide support to disabled people who are having difficulty in getting a job because of their disability, and also to employed people who are concerned about losing their job because of a disability.
Access to Work (AtW) Advisers have specialist knowledge of the Access to Work programme which provides support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work related obstacles resulting from a disability.

16. What help is available to me if I have a disability and I’m looking for work?
Most disabled people who use Jobcentre Plus are helped into work by Jobcentre Plus or Jobcentre personal advisers. In the 12 months between April 2002 and March 2003 they supported 112,731 disabled people to find work. If y

16 What help is available to me if I have a disability and I’m looking for work?
Most disabled people who use Jobcentre Plus are helped into work by Jobcentre Plus or Jobcentre personal advisers. In the 12 months between April 2002 and March 2003 they supported 112,731 disabled people to find work. If your disability or health condition isn’t causing you particular difficulties in finding or keeping a job, a Jobcentre Plus or Jobcentre personal Adviser will be able to give you appropriate advice and guidance.