Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will set out how his Department defines the distinction between enabling support and replacement support for the purposes of Access to Work assessments.

Enabling support and replacement support may be provided by a Support Worker job aide when a customer is unable to do part or all of their job because of their disability, illness or health condition.

If a customer is performing the job role, making decisions, and instructing the Support Worker this is deemed to be enabling. In cases where enabling support from a Support Worker job aide is awarded to a customer, this is up to a maximum of 100% of the customer’s contracted hours.

If a customer is not performing the job role, making decisions, and instructing the Support Worker, this is deemed to be replacement. Case Managers must identify the tasks the Support Worker job aide will do and decide how many hours can be supported. A maximum of 20% of the customer’s contracted hours can be supported by the Support Worker job aide.

More information can be found on the Access to Work Staff Guide.