Access to Work support cap

We are a non-profit membership organisation which exists to improve business performance by increasing confidence, accessibility, productivity and profitability. We do this by bringing business leaders, disabled people, and Government together to understand what needs to change to increase the life chances for disabled people in employment, economic growth, and society in general in a way that also benefits business. We provide practical, evidence-based solutions for businesses to recruit, retain and provide inclusive products and services to disabled people.

Question: Given that many high value awards purchase the wages of support workers, the Government thinks that a cap at 1.5 times the national average salary is reasonable. Do you concur? If so, why?

Response: We should not focus on “reasonableness”. Many of our Members commented on the term “reasonable” here. Asking whether a cap is “reasonable” misses the point of a cap at all. Instead of thinking through whether support capped at 1.5 times the average national salary is “reasonable”, we should instead be asking for evidence of where the cap works successfully. Measures of success may include an individual getting everything they need within the cap; being able to perform at least the full requirements of their role (i.e. leaving room to perform ‘exceptionally’ and take part in other areas of work life, such as social or employee network activities, for example); not be impacted by their disability in work when all support is in place; and the individual progresses or develops in the ways that they wish.