Department of Social Protection
Personal Reader
Personal Reader support helps employees and self-employed people who are blind or have a visual impairment pay for someone to help with reading tasks needed for their job. Work and Access pays the Personal Reader based on the current minimum wage and the level of support required.
- Grant range
- Up to €12,500 per year
- Funding level
- 100%
- Support type
- Grant
- Last checked
- 4 Sept 2026
About this scheme
Personal Reader support is one of the Work and Access supports available directly to employees and self-employed people, rather than to their employer. It helps pay for someone to carry out reading tasks that a blind person or a person with a visual impairment needs done as part of their job. Applicants who prefer reading software instead can apply under the separate Work Equipment support. The applicant hires or contracts a person or organisation as their Personal Reader, provided they are registered as a business and tax compliant; the applicant is responsible for finding their own Personal Reader, who does not need formal qualifications. Work and Access pays the Personal Reader based on the current minimum wage rate and the level of support needed — no fixed euro cap or percentage funding rate is stated. A Personal Reader cannot replace reading help normally provided by work colleagues, relatives, or friends. To apply, the employee or self-employed person completes the Work and Access application form (WA1).
Who can apply
- Must meet the general Work and Access eligibility requirements
- Must be an employee or self-employed person
- Must be blind or have a visual impairment
- Must need help with reading as part of their work
- The Personal Reader hired must be registered as a business and be tax compliant
- A Personal Reader cannot replace reading help normally provided by work colleagues, relatives, or friends
How to apply
- Complete the Work and Access application form (WA1)
- Send the completed form via a local Intreo Centre or Branch Office, by email to WorkandAccess@welfare.ie, or by post to Employment Services Management Support Team, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 13736, Co Louth, FDN7696
- If approved, the department provides funding to cover the agreed cost of the Personal Reader, based on the current minimum wage and the level of support needed
- At the end of each month the support is used, complete and return a Personal Reader support claim form so the department can make the payment
- The applicant is responsible for finding their own Personal Reader (no formal qualifications required), who must be registered as a business and tax compliant