Support for individuals FAQ

I'm worried that I will be financially worse off working
Can Shaw Trust provide a grant or funding for me?
Do I have to be registered disabled?
What counts as disability?
How can Shaw Trust help me if I'm at risk of losing my job due to disability or ill health?
I'm worried that if I start work and find that I can't manage it because of my disability or health condition, I won't be able to return to my current level of benefit.

I'm worried that I will be financially worse off working

Shaw Trust can help you with a Better Off In Work calculation which is designed to show you the impact of working. We can also help you access extra funding such as a return to work credits or a job start grant, plus give you advice on tax credits.

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Can Shaw Trust provide a grant or funding for me?

Shaw Trust is not a grant-making trust. However, clients on some of the programmes available may be eligible for financial support to help prepare for work. To find organisations whose role is to give grants to people in need, contact your local public reference library. Ask to look in directories such as: Directory of Grant Making Trusts, Educational Grants Directory, Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need, Guide to local trusts.

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Do I have to be registered disabled?

There is no longer any requirement or any facility to register as disabled. This was the old procedure under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

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What counts as disability?

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 describes a disabled person as anyone 'with a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect upon their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'. This is intended to be a fairly wide definition.

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How can Shaw Trust help me if I'm at risk of losing my job due to disability or ill health?

Shaw Trust runs various programmes around the UK aimed at helping people stay in employment. Go to our Staying in Work section.

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I'm worried that if I start work and find that I can't manage it because of my disability or health condition, I won't be able to return to my current level of benefit.

If you move from an incapacity benefit into a job within one month of leaving benefit, but then have to reclaim benefit, you can return to the same level of entitlement as before. Your local Jobcentre Plus can provide more information about the 104 week linking rule.

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