Work and Access - Workplace Equipment Grant

Work and Access is a scheme to support inclusive employment by offering funding to adjust workplaces and make them more accessible for people with disabilities.

Funding is available to qualifying job candidates, employees, self-employed people, and employers.

There are 7 categories of Work and Access support:

• Workplace Needs Assessment
• Communication Support
• In-Work Support
• Personal Reader
• Work Equipment
• Workplace Adaptation
• Disability Equality and Inclusion Training

This page explains the Workplace Equipment Grant. Depending on your needs, you may be entitled to more than one support at the same time.  Check the Work and Access Programme details in full before you apply for any support.

The Workplace Equipment Grant helps people with disabilities by providing up to €12,000 for assistive equipment or technology.

The grant is available to employees and self-employed people who need specific tools to do their jobs effectively in the workplace or from home.

New or existing employees and self-employed people can apply for funding. You can make the application yourself or someone else can apply on your behalf.

How to qualify

To qualify for the grant, you must have a disability or health condition that requires assistive equipment or technology to do your job. You must also meet the general eligibility criteria for the Work and Access programme.

A Workplace Needs Assessment may be needed, for example, if the cost of the equipment is high.

You can use the grant to cover the costs of assistive equipment or technology that helps you do your job. The grant can be for equipment used in a traditional business setting or for remote working, such as your home office.

Examples of eligible equipment are:

• Specialised furniture
• Alternative keyboards
• Screen magnifiers
• Induction loop systems
• Amplifiers for telephones
• Sip-and-puff systems
• Real-time captioning systems
• Screen-reading, dictation or voice recognition software
• Licence renewal of assistive software

You can also use the grant for training on how to use the equipment if needed.

Make sure that assistive technology is compatible with workplace devices or systems before you buy.

What the grant cannot be used for

The grant cannot be used to:

• Buy equipment required by law, such as health and safety equipment.
• Cover the usual costs of setting up or running a business.
• Buy job-specific equipment typically provided by employers.

The maximum grant amount is €12,000.

Adaptations to equipment are funded under the Workplace Adaptation Grant, which is another support under the Work and Access scheme.

The Department of Social Protection is developing an online application process, which will be available soon.

To apply for any of the supports available through the Work and Access Programme, follow these steps:

Step 1: Complete the application form

• Request the WA1 form from your local Intreo Office or download it from gov.ie.
• If you are unsure about the support needed, you only complete the relevant section on the WA1 Form.
• Provide quotes to support your application (see Quotes in Appendix 6 of the Operational Guidelines).

Step 2: Eligibility check

• Send your completed WA1 Form by post to Work and Access Section, Central Team, Finglas Intreo Centre, PO Box 13736, Freepost FDN7696, Dublin 11
• Your eligibility will be checked by the Work and Access Section

Step 3: Assessment and approval

• An officer will contact you directly to discuss your application.
• If eligible, you will be told about the next steps and any additional sections of the application form to complete.
• Approval for eligibility does not guarantee funding.
• Final approval will be made after you meet specific requirements set by Department officers.

Buying the equipment

When your application for the Workplace Equipment Grant is approved, you can start the process to purchase the necessary equipment or technology.

• Sourcing: The approved equipment or technology must be sourced and purchased by your employer or a designated representative. They will be responsible for buying the specific items that have been approved for funding.
• Payment: Your employer can claim reimbursement for the costs up to the amount approved in your grant. In some cases, arrangements can be made for direct payment to the equipment provider.
• Training: If the equipment requires specialist training to use, the costs for this training can also be covered by the grant.

Ownership of the equipment

The person with the disability who benefits from the equipment owns the equipment. This means the equipment is yours to keep and use, even if you change jobs or work environments unless it has been integrated into your employer’s general equipment.

While you own the equipment, your employer may be responsible for its insurance, maintenance, and any necessary health and safety training related to its use while you are employed with them.

For more information about the Work and Access programme:

• Read the Department of Social Protection Operational Guidelines for the Work and Access Programme
• Visit your local Intreo Centre
• Email: WorkandAccess@welfare.ie
• Write to: Work and Access Section, Central Team, Finglas Intreo Centre, PO Box 13736, Freepost FDN7696, Dublin 11