Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of the Access to Work scheme for carers.

Access to Work (ATW) is a demand-led, discretionary grant that supports the recruitment and retention of disabled people in sustainable, paid employment.

The grant contributes to the disability related extra costs of working faced by disabled people, and those with a health condition in the workplace, that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments, but it does not replace an employer’s duty under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments.

Where a carer, with a physical or mental health condition or disability that means they need support to work, is in paid work, or about to return to paid work in the next 12 weeks, they are able to apply for support from Access to Work.

Details on eligibility and how to apply can be found at https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work.