RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

About this factsheet

This factsheet is part of RNID’s employment range. It is written for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. We use the term ‘deaf’ to refer to all types of hearing loss.

Read this factsheet to find out:

What is RNID’s Employment, Training and Skills Service (ETSS) and how can it help me?

ETSS has a network of employment advisers who can provide a range of services that will help you get a job and develop your career. These include:

  • advice on how to start looking for work, composing a CV, filling in application forms writing letters and preparing for job interviews
  • advice on training courses that may help you on your way to the right job
  • work placements with employers
  • development training to help you improve your skills and confidence.

Contact the RNID Information Line or visit www.rnid.org.uk (external link) to find an employment adviser near you and for further information.

Where can I go for help and advice about looking for work?

Jobcentre Plus

There are Jobcentre Plus offices around the UK. If you want to find a job, the first step is to go to your local Jobcentre Plus office. To find one near you, look in the BT Phonebook (for business listings) under Jobcentre Plus. You can also search www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk (external link) to find your local office.

When you get in touch, ask for an appointment to see a personal adviser or disability employment adviser (DEA). To find out if there are any suitable job vacancies in your area you can also call Jobseeker Direct.

In some parts of the UK you may have to go to a ‘work-focused interview’ with a personal adviser at the Jobcentre Plus office when you make a new claim for jobseeker’s allowance, incapacity benefit or income support.

What does a disability employment adviser do?

A disability employment adviser is part of Jobcentre Plus' Disability Service Team. They will help you draw up an action plan to find a job or training.

Disability employment advisers can tell you about:

  • jobs that may suit you
  • • organisations for people who are deaf that can help you
  • the Access to Work programme
  • which work or training will suit you
  • equipment you may need because you are deaf.

New Deal

There are various New Deal (external link, opens new browser window) programmes to help people move into work. You may be able to qualify for one or more of the following programmes, depending on your circumstances:

  • New Deal for Disabled People
  • New Deal for Young People
  • New Deal for People aged 25+
  • New Deal for Lone Parents
  • New Deal 50+.

New Deal

This is a scheme to help people who get incapacity benefit find work. It is managed by a network of job brokers who:

  • can give you advice about job vacancies
  • help with CVs and application forms
  • help you prepare for interviews
  • support you through your first six months at work.

Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office to find out what job broker services operate in your area. For more information about the other New Deal programmes, contact your local job centre or Jobcentre Plus office or visit www.newdeal.gov.uk (external link)

Workstep

Workstep provides employment for people who are disabled in sheltered workshops and supported placements in mainstream workplaces. Ask the disability employment adviser at your local job centre or Jobcentre Plus office for more details.

Job Introduction Scheme

The Job Introduction Scheme encourages employers to take on people who are disabled. Employers are paid a grant for the first six weeks of employment (though this period can be extended to 13 weeks). Ask your local disability employment adviser for more details.

Job clubs and programme centres

Job clubs and programme centres can provide help and resources for people looking for work. They have equipment such as telephones, computers and photocopiers that members can use for free. Some job clubs and programme centres are specially set up for people who are deaf and staff will be able to sign and communicate with people who are deaf. The RNID Information Line can give you details of your nearest job club.

Want to be your own boss?

There is a lot of help and advice for people who are thinking about becoming self-employed. For more information, see our factsheet "Deaf or hard or hearing and want to be your own boss?"

Connexions

Connexions is a national network of careers services for young people aged 13-19 years old. Connexions personal advisers can provide advice about work, training or education. For more information about your local service, contact Connexions.

What is Access to Work (ATW) and how can it help me?

Access to Work is a government-funded programme, which:

  • supports people who are deaf and disabled to enable them to overcome challenges that stop them from working
  • enables people who are deaf and disabled to compete on equal terms in the employment market and in the workplace
  • aims to encourage employers to recruit and keep disabled staff
  • pays all or part of any additional cost this involves.

It does this by providing advice, assessments and funding for:

  • communication support for meetings, interviews, training courses and supervision
  • special equipment
  • adaptations to premises, equipment or working environment
  • help with travel to, or in, work

How do I get help from Access to Work?

To get help from Access to Work, you must:

  • be disabled. This covers people who are disabled according to the definitions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and people who are affected by their disability only at work. For more information see our factsheet "The DDA and Employment Rights (opens new browser window)".
  • need support at job interviews, have a job to start, or be in a job, whether you are self-employed or employed
  • need support to make a new job accessible, or to help if your current role is changing
  • live in and have a job in the UK
  • not be getting incapacity benefit or severe disability allowance. If you are getting these, stop claiming when you start working, as you can get support from Access to Work instead.

How to apply for help under Access to Work

To apply for help under Access to Work, you or your employer should get in touch with an Access to Work business centre as soon as you have a starting date. You can find the address of the centre nearest to you by searching the Jobcentre Plus website (external link, opens new browser window).

How much is Access to Work?

Access to Work pays a percentage of the total cost of approved support. Access to Work pays 100% of the approved costs for:

  • unemployed people starting a job
  • all self-employed people
  • employees who have been in the job for less than six weeks.

Access to Work pays 100% of the approved costs of the following, regardless of how long you have worked for an employer:

  • support workers
  • fares to work.
  • communicator support at interview.

If you have worked for an employer for six weeks or more and you need special equipment or adaptations to the work place, Access to Work pays a percentage of the costs:

Approved cost Maximum Access to Work payment  
 Less than £300 No contribution
 Between £300 and £10,000 80% of costs over £300
 Over £10,000 80% of costs between £300 and £10,000, and 100% of costs over £10,000

What type of support is covered by Access to Work?

Access to Work can pay for equipment or adaptations needed at work and communication services such as BSL/English interpreters. The following kinds of support may be relevant to you:

  • Adaptations to premises and equipment. Modifications to the workplace, equipment or company vehicles so that you can use them. Employers must contribute if adaptations benefit all staff, the organisation itself, or other employees or customers.
  • Communication support during interviews. Help with the cost of using communication support to prevent communication problems. Access to Work pays the full cost of communication support for interviews.
  • Special aids and equipment. Equipment can be leased (hired) if this is more cost-effective.
  • Support workers. Help with the cost of employing personal support - such as advocacy (legal) support - at a job interview or in the workplace.
  • Travel to work. If you have extra costs travelling to and from work, help with adapting a vehicle owned or leased by you, if this is the most cost-effective travel solution over the three-year period.
  • Miscellaneous. Usually the cost of providing one-off items that do not fit other categories. Travel costs within a job are covered by this category.

How long is an Access to Work award for?

All Access to Work help is for a maximum of three years, after which Jobcentre Plus reviews the circumstances. Access to Work may provide help for a further period if you continue to be eligible for help under the rules that apply at that time. If extra support is needed, this is added to the existing agreement - it does not need a new agreement.

Can an employer ask about my disability?

Employers can ask you to give information about your health, deafness or disability. However, they should not single you out because you are deaf, or use the information they are given to discriminate, unless they can show they have a good reason for doing so.

You do not have to tell your employer you have a hearing loss if you do not want to. However, if you are specifically asked about it, for example on the application form, or if you will need a reasonable adjustment, it is a good idea to tell them.

Do I have to have a medical examination?

An employer can ask everyone applying for a job to have a medical examination, but they are not allowed to single you out for one just because you are deaf, unless they can show that your hearing loss genuinely makes it difficult for you to do the job.

What is unlawful treatment if you are already working

It is unlawful for employers to treat people who are deaf who work for them less favourably than they would treat a hearing person or someone with a different disability. They can’t discriminate:

  • in the terms and conditions of employment
  • by preventing you from taking part in training, being transferred or promoted, or getting the same benefits your colleagues do, such as access to a health club
  • by dismissing you or behaving in other negative ways, such as harassing or bullying you because you are deaf.

Reasonable adjustments if you are already working

If you are already working, your employer must make adjustments for you. For example:

  • modifying a job to take into account your needs
  • moving you to an office with good acoustics
  • providing communication support for meetings
  • installing equipment such as amplified telephones, textphones or flashing light fire alarms
  • providing a portable induction loop for you to use while you are on a training course away from the office
  • allowing you time off to cope with your disability or to learn new skills to help you to adjust to your hearing loss. This may include lipreading and sign language courses.

For more information about your rights, see our factsheet "The DDA and employment rights".

Where can I get further information?

Connexions

Connexions Direct can help you with information and advice on issues such as health, housing and relationships, as well as job and learning options.

Telephone 0808 001 3219
Textphone 08000 688 336
Text (SMS) 07766 413 219
www.connexions-direct.com (external link, opens new browser window)

Directgov

Directgov is an online government service. It has information on a range of topics, including: travel safety, employment, special educational needs, local NHS services and benefits. It also has useful links and contacts for many government agencies.
www.direct.gov.uk (external link)

Jobcentre Plus

The Jobcentre Plus website (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk (external link)) can give you further information on Access to Work, Access to Work Business Centres, disability employment advisers and other government employment schemes.

Jobseeker Direct can give you information about current job opportunities.

Jobseeker Direct

This a service that helps you apply for jobs that have been advertised in the Jobcentre Plus office.

Telephone 0845 6060 234
Textphone 0845 6055 255
(Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm.)
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk (external link)

Unions

If you are in a union, it should help you with any employment problem and may represent you in a tribunal hearing. If you would like to find out how to join a union see www.tuc.org.uk (external link) for more information.

Further information from RNID

Our Information Line offers a wide range of information on many aspects of deafness and hearing loss.

Contact us for further copies of this factsheet and our full range of information factsheets and leaflets. You can also contact us if you would like information in Braille, on audiotape or large print.

RNID Information Line

19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
Fax 020 7296 8199
informationline@rnid.org.uk

RNID Welfare Rights Service

The RNID Welfare Rights Service provides free, confidential, independent information, advice and representation about social security law and its administration. Formerly known as the Legal Casework Service, it now focuses specifically on welfare rights issues. It provides information and assistance to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing obtain their correct benefit entitlements. It also advises on claims that need to be made.
RNID Welfare Rights Service, 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL.
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
Fax 020 7296 8199
welfarerights@rnid.org.uk

Communication services

Your local RNID Communication Services office can book communication support for you. Contact RNID Information Line for details of your local office. 

RNID Information, July 2009