Employment assistance for people with a disability 001-02230000

There are 2 main types of employment assistance available to job seekers with disability:

• Workforce Australia
• Disability Employment Services (DES)

The type of employment assistance offered to a job seeker depends on the level of assistance the job seeker needs to increase their capacity to obtain and retain work. This is usually assessed in either a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) or an Employment Services Assessment (ESAt).

Job seekers who live in a Department of Employment and Workplace Relations designated remote area are referred to a Community Development Program (CDP) provider. The CDP provider will provide similar services to both Workforce Australia and DES.

Job seekers are encouraged to increase their economic and social participation through individually tailored assistance to increase their work capacity. Many people with a disability are keen to work, study and participate in whatever way they can, but face significant obstacles. Service Officers should recognise an individual's capacity for participation and provide support and assistance for people to achieve their potential.

The following points should be discussed with the job seeker:

• advantages of work - income, involvement in community, self-esteem - suggest they watch VoDs highlighting the positive impact work and participation has had for some recipients of Disability Support Pension (DSP)
• current circumstances, changes to condition and how it affects them. Investigate whether work, part-time or full-time, is of interest to them
• participation in employment assistance does not affect eligibility for DSP or other payments
• participation in job seeking and referral to an Employment Services Provider is voluntary for customers who are not in receipt of a payment with mutual obligation requirements or subject to DSP participation requirements however there are limits on the length of engagement and eligibility for Disability Employment Services (DES)
• if in receipt of a payment with mutual obligation requirements or subject to DSP participation requirements, DES or a similar activity might satisfy, or contribute towards satisfying, their mutual obligation requirements or participation requirements
• other payments and services that may assist in participation, for example, Family Day Care Services/vacation care programs, possibility of Mobility Allowance (MOB), State taxi transport subsidy
• if engaged with DES or a Workforce Australia Employment Services Provider, they may be referred to Self-Employment Assistance or other structured programs of employment assistance

• Disability Support Pension (DSP) - Many customers may be reluctant to consider employment assistance before a decision is made about DSP eligibility. However, unless a customer is to be granted DSP (manifest), they are required to attend a JCA to assess the functional impact of their impairment and their work capacity. The JCA will recommend appropriate employment assistance options. A DSP (manifest) customer may volunteer to attend an ESAt to assess their employment assistance options if they wish
• From 1 July 2014, DSP customers under 35 years of age who have a work capacity of 8 or more hours per week may have compulsory participation requirements if they meet the DSP participation requirements criteria. In addition to the requirement to attend DSP Participation Interviews and sign a DSP Participation Plan, customers must include at least 1 compulsory activity in their Participation Plan
• Payments with mutual obligation requirements - Customers with a temporary incapacity are required to provide a medical certificate indicating that they are not fit for work. If the customer is assessed through an Employment Services Assessment (ESAt) as able to work at least 8 hours per week but less than 30 hours per week, their mutual obligation requirements will be modified. Customers with a work capacity of 8-14 hours are able to volunteer to participate in DES if DES is recommended in their ESAt. Customers with an assessed work capacity of 30+ will not be eligible for a DES referral