Access to Work

If you have a disability or mental health condition, Access to Work could help you get or stay in work.

The support that you will receive will depend on your needs.

Wait times

Be aware that wait times vary greatly. With the continued pressure that Access to Work are under, wait times greatly exceed the target times. There are reports of people that have been waiting 3 months, but there are many other reports of people waiting upwards of 1 year or even longer.

What could I be entitled to?

Access to Work offer a range of support that you can apply for:

  • Mental health support such as mental health apps or 1-1 sessions with a mental health professional (Note that if you have accessed mental health support through ATW before, you cannot apply again)
  • A grant to pay for physical support such as specialist equipment or assistive software
  • A grant to pay for communication support such as a BSL interpreter or needing assistance at a job interview

Be aware that Access to Work will not pay for reasonable adjustments.

Reasonable adjustments are changes that are made to reduce or minimise barriers for disabled employees. Examples are:

  • Allowing a wheelchair-user to work on the ground floor
  • changing work arrangements – hybrid or remote working
  • Providing equipment such as chairs
  • Taking more breaks throughout the day

If you’re applying for communication support

There is a different process if applying for communication support. Note that this is specifically for job interviews.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this support you must:

  • Be Deaf or hard of hearing and need a BSL interpreter or lipspeaker
  • Have a physical, or mental health condition or learning disability (conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia)

If you’re applying for any other support

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for Access to Work you must:

  • Be 16 or over
  • Be in paid work or about to start or return to paid work in the next 12 weeks
  • Have a physical or mental health condition or disability that means you need support in order to do your job or get to and from work (this can be conditions such as autism, ADHD, a physical disability, temporary conditions such as a broken leg, and mental health conditions)
  • Live and work (or about to start or return to work) in England, Wales or Scotland – there’s a different process for Northern Ireland (Keep an eye out for my post on this!)

You do not need a diagnosis in order to apply.

The application

You can find the application form here.

You will need:

  • Your contact details
  • Your workplace address and postcode
  • Information about your condition(s) affects your work and the type of support you need
  • If you’re employed, details of a workplace contact who can confirm you work there
  • If you’re self-employed, your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number

Speaking from my own experience, the application is relatively long, and involves you to write in moderate detail about your condition(s), and what support you think would be the most beneficial to you.

You can also apply by phone by calling the Access to Work helpline at 0800 121 7479.

After you apply

At some point you will receive a phone call from Access to Work. If you are Deaf, hard of hearing or struggle with phone calls, you can ask for all communication to be via email.

Once you are contacted, an assessment may be arranged. This can be either at your workplace, or via video call at home. After your assessment, you will receive a letter with a decision and an explanation. Note that there are reports of long waits for decisions.

If you disagree with the decision

If you disagree with the decision you’ve been given, you can call the Access to Work helpline and ask for a reconsideration. You may also be able to email your case manager if you find phone calls difficult, but it is recommended you contact the helpline.

Claiming money from your grant

You can claim money from your grant here. In order to claim money from your grant you’ll need:

  • The dates you had support
  • Invoices or receipts showing the cost of support
  • Bank details for the person or company who will receive money from the grant
  • Details of a workplace contact who can confirm the support you’re claiming for

Renewing your grant

If you are nearing the end of your claim, you can renew your Access to Work claim. You must do this at least 12 weeks before the end of your claim. Note that you may need another assessment.

Disclaimer: To the best of my ability, the information found on this website is correct at the time of writing.

Page last updated: 06/02/2026