The Government has today announced more support for small businesses and disabled entrepreneurs to pay for specialised equipment and to cover the other costs facing disabled people in work.

Businesses with more than 49 employees will no longer pay towards the extra costs faced by disabled people in work – saving businesses up to £2,300 for every employee who uses the Access to Work fund.

Disabled jobseekers who want to set up their own business using the New Enterprise Allowance will now be eligible for Access to Work funding from day one of claiming Jobseekers Allowance.

Henry commented:

“Under this Government, the number of disabled people in work has steadily increased. There are now 123,000 more disabled people in work than before the election.  This is fantastic progress, but we need to do more. That’s why this announcement’s so important. This Government is breaking down the barriers facing disabled people who want to work.  

“It was with great pleasure, therefore, that I recently had the immensely proud task of opening the Royal British Legion’s (RBL) Work Programme Delivery Centre, in conjunction with the Department for Work & Pensions, in Crawley’s Overline House.

The project focuses on targeted and personal support for the long-term unemployed in finding work and has already helped 900 people locally, 20 percent of whom are 18-25 year olds and over-50s. RBL also specifically support jobless ex-service personnel.

“The project will help equip numerous local residents, who have been entrapped on benefit support, to find work.  This will significantly reduce the number of workless households in Crawley and ensure that the next generation of local residents are inspired and motivated to work to ensure a more prosperous future for themselves and their families.”