If you have the opportunity of a job, but you and your employer have some concerns about whether, because of your disability, there will be practical difficulties, the Job Introduction Scheme can provide breathing space. It can fund a short trial period – usually six weeks - by making a contribution towards your wages. This gives both you and your employer time to decide

Measures are being phased in to help people claiming disability and incapacity benefits to work if they wish to do so.

The programme will involve:

Around 20 Innovative Schemes to explore how best to help people move into work or stay in work;

Potential Advisers to help people to overcome the barriers to work. Initially, access will be through 12 pilot areas covering a quarter of a million people;

An information campaign to improve knowledge of the existing help available to help people into work and to change attitudes of benefit recipients, employers and the public; and

A programme of Research and Evaluation to develop an understanding of disabled people to determine the effect of new initiatives.

To help smooth the path when moving from benefits to paid employment the Department of Social Security (DSS) will make the following benefit changes to take effect from October 1998:

Linking rule extended to 52 weeks; helps former claimants of incapacity benefits who take a job but then return to benefit within one year with an illness or disability. This allows them to return to the same benefit rate that they were receiving before they started work.

Unlimited hours of voluntary work whilst claiming incapacity benefit: removes the current 16 hours per week limit.

Look out for employers who use the disability symbol (as shown below) on job advertisements, application forms and recruitment literature. It shows a company is positive about employing disabled people and will be keen to know about your abilities.

As your own boss, you have the flexibility of controlling your own work environment, travel, and money. State assistance is, broadly speaking, the same as all would-be self-employed people receive:

Ask for details at your local Jobcentre or TEC/LEC

Voluntary work can put you in touch with the world of work and may help you assess your strengths. It can be a bridge into paid employment, providing references and proving your skills and abilities. But check with your local Social Security office to make sure no benefit would be affected before starting work.

Get in touch with a specialist agency such as:

Community Service Volunteers (CSV) finds work away from home with expenses, meals, and pocket money provided. Tel: 0207 278 6601

The Careers Service provides structured programmes of careers, education and guidance for all young people. It provides specialist advice for clients with special educational or training needs. Many (but not all) careers services have specialist advisers for people with special needs.

The Careers Service assists:

People in full-time education except those at institutions of higher education or on higher education courses at further education colleges;

People in part-time education in order to prepare them for employment;

People aged under 21 who have left education or full-time training.

Disabled people remain part of the client group until they are settled in their careers, without age or time restriction.

Careers advisers must provide accessible and user-friendly information about education, training and employment opportunities; help people make decisions about work and training based on realistic understanding of their ability and potential; and help clients at a disadvantage in the labour market.

Claimant advisers at Social Security offices can give you help and advice on payment of state benefits after you start full-time or part-time work.

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