Factsheet for measure
FR-2020-14/1285
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Updated
– measures in France
Exceptional aid to cover the extra cost of specific prevention equipment
Aide exceptionnelle pour la prise en charge du surcoût des équipements spécifiques de prévention
Background information
Since April 2020, Agefiph has been offering employers exceptional assistance for the specific management of COVID -19 prevention. This support aims to cover the additional cost of specific COVID-19 risk prevention equipment made available by the employer for the benefit of a deaf and/or hard of hearing person and for people with cognitive problems requiring lip reading for better oral comprehension and better understanding of the group in which they work. Last June, Agefiph supplemented this assistance with the payment of the additional cost of 'inclusive masks' (transparent) to facilitate communication between the disabled person and his or her team.
Content of measure
The financial support is provided to any employer of an employee who is recognised as disabled or in the process of becoming recognised as disabled and for whom specific barrier-removing measures are essential to enable him/ her to return to work.
Modalities and contents
The aim is to finance specific COVID-19 risk prevention equipment. For instance: financing of the additional cost between the price of a conventional mask and the price of an inclusive mask, based on the real cost borne by the company (bearing in mind that the cost of approved inclusive masks does not exceed €15).
Admissibility contents
The funding does not cover equipment for collective use such as FFP masks, alternative protection masks or equipment for the general public, gloves, cleaning or disinfection of the premises, maintenance, deliveries, costs related to marking or location on the ground.
Expenditure must be incurred during the period of resumption of activity; the equipment is financed net of tax for a company that recovers VAT.
Specificities for inclusive masks
Eligibility is limited to the disabled employee and their working group. For instance, if a workplace were the disabled employee works has 10 employees, including a deaf or hearing-impaired person, Agefiph will cover the number of masks required for 10 employees.
The financial support coverage the needs for a period of 3 months, renewable according to changes in the health context.
Elements to be submitted with the application
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The quotation(s) or invoice for the expenses to be incurred.
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A certificate attesting that the employee is recognised as a disabled worker (or that an application for recognition of his or her disability is pending) and is included in the quota system for the employment of disabled workers (beneficiary of the employment obligation).
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A certificate of employment signed by the employer specifying the date of hiring, the nature of the employment contract (fixed-term, permanent contract, weekly working hours, etc.).
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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14 December 2021
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Agefiph and FIPHFP have decided to extend, once again, until 28 February 2022, their exceptional aid set up in the spring of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis. These aids has been extended several times. But this time, Agefiph's board of directors explains that it has 'analysed and taken note of the lasting repercussions on work organisations of these two years of health crisis and has decided to integrate them into Agefiph's range of services and financial aid'. The aim is to help disabled people - employees or job seekers, companies and self-employed people with disabilities - to cover the costs associated with the adaptations required by disabled employees in the office or at home.
Thus, the additional cost of prophylactic equipment (inclusive masks, etc.), travel assistance for people exposed to a health risk by using public transport, the flexibility provided for job retention assistance (in particular the possibility of renewing financial assistance when additional time is needed to apply the solutions) and the increase in work-study assistance introduced in 2020 are integrated into Agefiph's current range of services and financial assistance.
In addition, the support for self-employed disabled workers has been re-evaluated from €5,000 to €6,000 in order to increase support for the creation or resumption of a business. The diagnosis of support for the exit from the crisis for entrepreneurs is also maintained pending a return to a calmer health situation.
Exceptional aid remains open until 1 March 2022, when Agefiph's new service and financial aid offer will be accessible.
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30 June 2021
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'To meet the continuing need for support for employers, employees and jobseekers with disabilities', the exceptional assistance provided by Agefiph since March 2020 will continue until 31 December 2021, having already been extended several times, Agefiph and FIPHFP announced on 30 June (see press release in Source section).
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01 March 2021
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As the COVID-19 crisis poses additional challenges for people with disabilities, Agefiph and FIPHFP (Fonds pour l'insertion des personnes handicapées dans la fonction publique), have decided to extend their exceptional emergency aid put in place in the spring of 2020 until 30 June 2021, says a press release from the two organisations dated 1 March. This concerns in particular the exceptional aid for covering the additional cost of specific preventive equipment (so-called inclusive masks, visors, etc.), exceptional aid for teleworking, exceptional aid for travel and aid for distance learning, for example.
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Use of measure
No information available.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Consulted
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Consulted
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Form
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Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies
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Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
Peak-level social partner organisations participate to the management of Agefiph. Therefore they are consulted on such measure.
Views and reactions
No information available.
Sources
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01 April 2020: Aide exceptionnelle pour la prise en charge du surcoût des équipements spécifiques de prévention
(www.agefiph.fr)
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30 June 2021: Reprise économique : l’Agefiph et le FIPHFP prolongent à nouveau leur plan de soutien en faveur de l’emploi des personnes handicapées
(www.agefiph.fr)
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14 December 2021: Le conseil d’administration de l’Agefiph adopte le 14 décembre un budget 2022 au service de l’amplification de ses actions et fait évoluer son offre de services et d’aides financières.
(www.agefiph.fr)
