Access to Work Programme: Young People

(asked on 16th September 2015) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department takes to ensure that an Access to Work award is agreed and support is in place before a disabled young person starts a new job.


Answered by
Justin Tomlinson Portrait
Justin Tomlinson
This question was answered on 12th October 2015

In 2014/15 the numbers of 18-24s helped by Access to Work was 2460, which is an increase of 18% over the year before and the largest number helped since our records began in 2007.

Last year the government published the Young Disabled People’s Employment Portal, signposting young disabled people, their parents, carers, teachers and careers advisers to comprehensive sources of help and advice on employment support including Access to Work.

You can find more information about it here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/help-and-support-for-young-disabled-people-to-find-and-stay-in-work/help-and-support-for-young-disabled-people-to-find-and-stay-in-work

In addition, Access to Work has worked with stakeholders, including Department for Education; Further Education colleges; employment programme providers and a range of organisations who work with young disabled people, to promote Access to Work and introduce a new streamlined referral process to support young people in accessing supported internships or apprenticeships.

Official statistics for waiting times for Access to Work applications are not readily available and to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate cost.

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