The Wage Subsidy Scheme provides financial incentives to employers, outside the public sector, to employ disabled people who work a minimum of 21 hours per week.

A person on the Wage Subsidy Scheme is subject to the same conditions of employment as other employees. These conditions include PRSI contributions, annual leave, tax deductions and the going rate for the job.

Wage Subsidy Form

Confidential Medical Report

Employee Application Form

Supplier Set Up Form

Productivity Level Report

WSS Guidelines

The purpose of the Employee Retention Grant Scheme is to assist employers to retain employees who acquire an illness, condition or impairment which impacts on their ability to carry out their job.

It helps to explore the employees continuing capacity to operate as a productive member of the workforce.

This grant is designed for people with a disability who’ve been offered employment, or are about to be re-deployed, promoted or become self-employed.

If any of these changes means a more accessible or adapted workplace is required for you to do your job, your employer may get a grant towards the costs.

Examples include minor modifications such as ramps or toilets, alarm systems with flashing lights, equipment adaptation, such as voice synthesizers for computers or amplifiers for telephones.

JobsPlus is an employer incentive which encourages and rewards employers who employ jobseekers on the Live Register.

Employers are paid an incentive monthly in arrears over a 2-year period. It provides 2 levels of regular payments, €7,500 and €10,000 respectively.

The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) is a 6-month, 30 hour per week voluntary work experience programme. The programme is for jobseekers that are currently getting a qualifying social welfare payment and who have been unemployed for six months (156 days) or more.

The weekly rate of payment is €306.

If you would like to re-train and gain experience in another type of employment, this programme can help you build new skills and gain work experience.

The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides a maximum of €20,000 funding for private sector

employers to arrange and pay for disability awareness training for staff who work with a colleague who has a disability.

The training should provide clear and accurate information to employers and employees about

working with people with disabilities. The training should be aimed at providing those taking part with an understanding and awareness of the issues surrounding disability.

Also an overview of relevant anti-discrimination and equal opportunities legislation.

It should also provide specific information on:

•Disabilities and abilities focusing on mobility and sensory issues.
•Perceptual awareness exercises that aim to dispel common myths.
•Disability etiquette to clarify appropriate language and behavior.

The training should include information on dealing with mental health issues in the workplace.