You can now make a new AtW Application, or apply for for your AtW Renewal online.  

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/renew

You can do this online in English, or scroll down the Communication Support for Interview page until you see "British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service".  (See screenshot below)

If you use the video relay service (in ATW working hours) you will be connected through a BSL interpreter to an ATW adviser, who will complete the online application with you.  

If you have any problems, email SignVideo at [email protected]

If you haven’t used this before, then first watch this video that explain how to use the service (in BSL and English).  It may look complicated, but isn't really.

Click here to watch the video on YouTube.

DeafATW recommends that at the end of your call with AtW, you ask the AtW call centre or AtW Adviser to send you an email summarising what has been discussed and agreed.  

You should also keep notes of the what was said and agreed on the call.  This is in case later the AtW Adviser says something different has been agreed.

7th August 2019

You can now apply for Communication Support for Interviews (CSI) online.  You can do this online in English, or scroll down the Communication Support for Interview page until you see "British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service".  (See screenshot below)

If you use the video relay service (in ATW working hours) you will be connected through a BSL interpreter to an ATW adviser, who will complete the online application with you.  You can also now fill in the claim form in BSL the same way, through an interpreter.

Go to the DeafATW for interviews page for full information about applying for CSI, including:

• What you need to do, and what information you need to have ready so that you can apply.
• What happens, and what you need to do, after you apply.

Or click here to download all the information, including screenshots of the online application process.

​14th March 2019

Some people are confused about what information they need to send to ATW about their Support (Worker (SW), to make sure that the interpreter is paid, because the way that ATW explain what they need is not always clear.  This is a summary of what ATW are asking for.  Click below to read more information about this.

For freelance SWs booked direct ATW need you to send them:
 
1)  A completed SW claim form.
2)  Original SW invoice/s (attached to the claim form).
 
For SWs booked through an agency ATW need you to send them:
 
1)  A completed SW claim form.
2)  Original agency invoice/s (attached to the claim form)
3)  A time sheet signed by the SW. (The timesheet is not an ATW form, it is your form.  Download the document below for more information.)

Click here to download a plain English explanation of what ATW need.  

24th October 2018

​Deaf people have told DeafATW that when they have a Workplace Assessment the assessor has said that they can only make recommendations about equipment, and not about communication support. This is frustrating, as deaf BSL users often only need communication support (face to face and/or remote), and deaf English users may need equipment, but often also need communication support (such as remote speech to text).

But the DWP has said that this is not right, Workplace Assessors can make recommendations about communication support as well as equipment.

However Workplace Assessors can only recommend the number of hours support needed if the AtW Adviser has asked them to do this.  

If the Workplace Assessor does recommend a number of hours, it is only a recommendation, and the AtW Adviser may award more, the same, or less hours, depending on their overall assessment of needs.

If you have a Workplace Assessment, and the Assessor tells you either that they can only recommend  equipment, or that they can’t recommend communication support, please let DeafATW know, and we can tell AtW.  ​

7th November 2015

AtW have told many Deaf people that they will not pay for two interpreters for meetings, even though the current AtW Guidance says that two interpreters should be used for meeting of over two hours.

Some Deaf people have also told us that AtW have agreed a budget for using two interpreters for meeting of over two hours.
​
​AtW have also told many Deaf people that they will never pay for notetakers.  But a couple of Deaf people have told us that AtW have agreed a budget to pay for note taking support.

So if AtW tell you that they never pay for two interpreters or notetakers, first ask for a reconsideration, then complain. ​

30th June 2015

Stop the Changes campaign have been contacted by a number of people who have had their hours support reduced because the AtW adviser says they have underspent (not spent all) their budget.  Sometimes this seems to be a mistake by the AtW adviser.  Sometimes it might be right, but there are obvious reasons why it shouldn't mean your budget is reduced, e.g. sickness.

So, if the AtW adviser tells you that you have underspent your budget:

1)  Check is this right.  Work out the figures yourself.  Tell the adviser and send them your figures if you think they are wrong.

2)  Ask the adviser for the numbers they have used, and for the calculation where they worked out you are underspent.

3)  If the AtW adviser won't send you these, you can make a Subject Access Request, which means they have to send you the information on your file about you.  You can see how to do that here.

4)  If you have underspent your budget, but there are good reasons for this, that means it is wrong to reduce your budget, explain that to the Adviser.  

E.g. if you used less because you had time off ill, or for recent holidays, or because you were on training and they provided the interpreter, then explain that this doesn't mean that you need less hours each month.

5)  If the AtW adviser won't agree with you, you can make a formal reconsideration request to AtW.

 6)  If the reconsideration request doesn't help, or you have other problems with this, please contact DeafATW.

Click here to download AtW Guidance on being employed and self-employed

21 September 2014 (posted on NRCPD site 19 August 2014)

This information has been copied from the NRCPD site.  

"NRCPD has been told Access to Work advisers are asking to see the qualifications of communication professionals. In particular, they are asking for confirmation they have a level 6 qualification.

As well as being an unnecessary administrative burden, not all registrants have a level 6 qualification. That may be because they registered when a level 6 qualification wasn't required. Or it may be because a level 6 qualification isn't required for that register.

We have explained this to Access to Work. We have also said there is no need to check the qualifications of NRCPD registered communication professionals. Their fitness to practise is guaranteed by their registration.

If an adviser asks to see your qualifications or the qualifications of a communication professional you are supplying, please feel free to use this template letter."

Click to go to the NRCPD page.  There is more information there about this.  You can download the template letter below, or from their page.
​
Click here to download the NRCPD's template letter (a letter ready for you to add your name and address and send to your AtW Adviser)

2 June 2014

After the restructure, when you call AtW, you will normally talk to call centre staff.  

They can be really helpful, but all they can do is look at your file, or pass a message on to an AtW Adviser.  They don't seem to be able to make decisions.

Sometimes if you ask want to talk about a problem with them it sounds like they are answering your question, or saying no to you, or there is nothing you can do, but all they are really doing is reading what it says in your letter or file.  

So it is important, if you want to sort something out, or want to complain, make sure the call centre staff pass a message on to an AtW Adviser or manager to call you back.  ​