Social Firms UK

The Permitted Work Guide has been updated and is correct from October 2011

Benefit rules are very complex, but changes to Housing Benefit from 1st April 2010 brought a welcome change. Many people are now able to earn and keep up to £93 a week, as well as their incapacity-related benefits.

Who is this guide for? This guide is written for you if you get benefits because a health condition or disability makes it difficult to work but you would like to work part-time. You can use it to work out what you can earn before the “benefits trap” affects you.

Who else might use this guide? You might also want to discuss it with a friend, family member, support worker or employer.

This handbook is written from an employer's point of view, contains a wealth of information about how employers can get advice and support about employing people with learning disabilities and is full of real-life practical examples of how employers and workers in private, voluntary and local authority sectors have made a success of this important area of equality and diversity. The handbook covers everything employers need to know and goes through all the stages from recruiting to supervision, and from dealing with problems to helping career development. There are 'key information' sections on sources of support and a series of training cards. (62 pages)

The Association of Disabled Professionals has written and produced a plain English Resource Guide, Directory of Support and Quick Reference Guide to support disabled people who want to set up in business. It is intended that the guide will also be used by business advisers within mainstream organisations. As well as ensuring that key issues are covered, such as tax, funding, mentoring and different types of business opportunity, it also includes stories from disabled entrepreneurs and their experiences of starting up in business. The guide is available in a number of formats including large print, braille, easy read and electronic format. To order a copy, email adp.admin@ntlworld.com or visit www.adp.org.uk

3 December 2007

This information sheet outlines the Government's 'Access To Work' scheme and how it can provide support to organisations employing disabled people. Case studies are included.