Access to work fund?

[Alittlecuddlefromme]

Hi all, I can finally try and get back into work after a long stint of unemployment due to my daughter needing me to be at home.
I have a job interview on the 19th for a job I really want.
I was approved AtW in my old job, this was 2 years ago. My needs have got worse now as I have rheumatoid arthritis and POTS, my last claim was for ADHD (which I still have obv haha).
Anyway, I’m going to apply again to them to get support if I get this job.
What’s the chances I could get things like;
Apple watch to monitor heart rate for POTS
hand warmer/massager to help when arthritis flares up
Feet warmer & massager for when arthritis flares up
ADHD friendly laptop + extra screen
remarkable with pen
adhd friendly software
virtual assistant
ergonomic chair + foot swing
a support worker, I need this for as long as possible, I get distracted very easily, my arthritis flares up whenever it wants quite badly, POTS can with no warning cause me to get light headed, confused, and faint if I don’t rest, also need a support worker to be travel buddy or drive me to work, I have a notability car so don’t need taxi or anything I just need someone with me so I don’t get distracted whilst driving to work and to different sights whilst in work.
Job coach would be amazing.
ADHD life coach would also help lots.

I know I’m quite a bag of illness’ atm but I want to get back into work so badly.

Im trying to prepare myself as best as I can as I know that if you know what you need the application goes through quicker.
I have all medical proof ready.

If anyone has experience of AtW and knows anything about it I’d be super greatful for help and advice. Thank you

A number of those items on your list are not employment specific- those are what PIP is for. If your heart needs monitoring then it needs monitoring whether at work or not. If you get an arthritic flare that happens when it happens, whether or not you have a job. Access to Work is about your additional work related requirements and is specific to the role - it isn't as simple as you pulling together a shopping list of the things you'd like.

Who drives for you now? Since you obviously shouldn't be driving if your medical condition is such that you are easily distracted, or prone to light-headedness and episodes of fainting.

Please remember to declare all this to the employer if made an offer, as several of these symptoms you describe have significant potential health and safety implications.

You will not get equipment unless you are self employed or your employer agrees to reimburse the cost to Access. There is also a contributory rate for larger employers for costs up to £10k. And the maximum amount is £66k per year, which won't go very far if you are assessed as requiring lots of people ( support worker, life coach, job coach). Remember that is isn't just the wages, but also employers NI and pension.

I understand what you’re saying, but when I called AtW to ask if I should apply again they said yes. They told me to think about what I’d need to ensure my ADHD, RA & POTS doesn’t make me need to stop working, make a list then tell them with reasons for each thing when I re apply. So that’s what I did. It’s a job going from location to location giving lectures, which could induce a flare up of RA or POTS. So I’d need things to reduce symptoms to be able to continue my job. What do you mean a list of things I’d like? It’s literally that? It’s what I think would help me get into/stay in work.
As for driving, my husband drives me around. I can drive if I dont have a time limit as distraction doesn’t matter. But once I have to be somewhere for a certain time my brain is against me. POTS only (for me) flares up with physical activity or heat such as hot baths or sun beds. So the nature of this job could induce flare ups. RA again flares up with over or under use of joints, again the nature of this job could cause flare ups. The job is based at different schools plus an office, so I’ll be planning at office, then travelling to schools doing lectures, then teaching physical activities. So a lot of desk work with sporadic physical work.
Employer doesn’t need to contribute if you apply when unemployed but have a job offer before you start work or within 6 weeks of starting a job after a stint of unemployment. Employer funds, then AtW reimburses employer.

I've had a very recent access to work award for autism and they gave 60% towards lenses I need to look at the computer screen. It was a cost share as I also use the glasses outside of work so had to pay to reflect that. And I also had to pay 100% of the frame cost as anyone who wears glasses pays for their frame.

I also was awarded some text to speech software on an existing laptop.

I think you're being wildly ambitious with what they will provide in terms of a grant.

In my experience, they won’t fund things like laptops, but would
fund software to help your ADHD, like mind mapping software. They might fund some VA hours to help you. You might get a Remarkable, but they wouldn’t help with laptop software then. An Apple Watch wouldn’t class as something related to employment, sadly, and I don’t think the warmers would either, but you might be able to get them through.

They'll fund a taxi if you can’t drive and need help to get to work, but they don’t usually do ongoing support payments to workers. They’d likely offer you a taxi and the taxi driver would be the person accompanying you. You could then make an agreement with the local taxi place that they try to send you the same person, etc. Will you need a taxi just to the office; or between the offices and the schools too? I’m not sure you’d get the second, they’d likely expect your employer to make a reasonable adjustment in giving you one base location each day.

You may get coaching for ADHD, procrastination, etc; but it’s limited to two or three one hour sessions, they won’t pay for it on an ongoing basis.

They are getting more aggressive about getting contributions from employers. Make sure yours knows what you’re asking for and that they may have to fund and reclaim.

They used to fund a lot more than they do now. The first two stages often feel really optimistic but the proposed list of help is usually really cut down now; and they’ll often include things that could help but say they cannot be funded by AtW and you or your employer should explore them, or consider PIP.

I’d probably go into it with more realistic expectations, and if you get more, that’s great. Also read your paperwork carefully. If they fund a lot more than usual; they often include clauses about repayment/surrendering items if your job doesn’t work out and you’re not employed for a year or so.

I think your list is extreme and you should split it into absolute essentials, would be nice to have and what I would consider luxury.

For example a support worker, an ADHD coach, a job coach and a virtual assistant sounds ridiculous

Also if you have an issue with driving and flare ups that mean you can’t work, a job going from on me location to another and presenting lectures doesn’t sound suitable - it sounds like a WFH role would be more suitable, like online tutoring

I didn’t think I’d get all of it.
the laptop and that I got last time.
the warmers and watch are the only things I didn’t get.
I was, like they asked me to do, trying to think of what work make it easier for me to stay in work.

I’m not going to wfh, I just simply wouldn’t. I can’t get into work mode at home.

That's all very well and good, but what you are saying is that you've applied for a role which you know will cause worsening symptoms. Do you think that wise?

Apple watch to monitor heart rate for POTS
hand warmer/massager to help when arthritis flares up
Feet warmer & massager for when arthritis flares up

Surely if you need these, you'd need them in life outside work, so I don't think you'd get them as a work specific adjustment.

ADHD friendly laptop + extra screen

Yes - a common adjustment in my experience.

remarkable with pen

Assume this is software - if needed for the job then yes, or equivalent.

adhd friendly software

Depends on compatibility with whatever they normally use but in theory this is reasonable.

virtual assistant

Again, depends on role - virtual assistants are normally for diary management and so forth.

ergonomic chair + foot swing

Normally the employer will assess to see what sort of chair is needed and if any footrest is needed.

Support worker/driver/life coach

I doubt it. It's your own responsibility to get to and from work, and if it's a driving job but you can't drive safely, then they are not obliged to give you the role. They won't supply a life coach just for you but there might be general life/career coaching available for all employees if it's a large organisation.

I think overall you are confusing things which would help you in life generally, with reasonable adjustments that would enable you to do a particular job role.

Wishing you luck with finding a suitable job, there'll be something out there that's for you!