What is access to work?
Navigating the professional world with neurodiversity or a long-term health condition can be challenging, but not impossible.
You could get up to £69,260 in support from the UK government through the Access to Work scheme.
No diagnosis? No problem.
Whether you're employed or a freelancer, your potential is limitless with the right support.
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Access to Work is a UK government initiative from the DWP aimed at supporting individuals with disabilities who need additional support in their professional roles.
This includes those with invisible conditions like ADHD and neurodiversity, as well as those with physical disabilities.
Access to Work is a grant, not a benefit. This means it is not income tested, and your savings do not affect your eligibility.
Eligibility
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Personal criteria:
- You live and work in Great Britain
- You have a disability, health condition, or mental health condition affecting your job performance
- You’re aged 16 or over
- You need an aid, adaptation, financial or human support to do your job
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Work-related criteria:
- You’re currently in paid work or you’re about to start work or become self-employed
- If you’re employed, you’re paid at least the National Minimum Wage
- If you’re self-employed, you have a Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number and a turnover of £6,500
- You’re starting a work placement in certain internships or traineeships
- You have a job interview, work trial, or work experience lined up via Jobcentre Plus
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You can’t get ATW if:
- You’re in unpaid work, including volunteering
- You’re a civil servant
- You’re receiving Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Income Support, or National Insurance credits
- Your Universal Credit claim doesn’t allow you to apply for any paid work
- You’re a non-EU resident without a visa to live and work in Great Britain
What can I get from Access to Work?
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What ATW Covers
- Specialist equipment to support you
- Modifications to your existing equipment
- Travel costs if public transport isn't feasible
- Support workers or job coaches
- Mental health support for work-related challenges
- Disability awareness training for your colleagues and managers
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What ATW doesn’t cover
- Standard equipment anyone would need to do their job
- Things your employer should provide as reasonable adjustments (including things you can implement for yourself if you’re self-employed)
- Support your employer previously provided but later withdrew
- Costs for setting up your own business, or staying in business (e.g. marketing, networking, business development)
- The cost of professional development, for example, attending training events or courses
How to apply for ATW
The Access to Work application questions
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About you
Your name, address, and date of birth
Your contact details and contact preferences
A list of your conditions or disabilities
A description of how your condition or disability affects you at work
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Details about your work
Your employment status
Your job title, starting date, and workplace name and address
A description of what you do at work
The average days and hours of work you do each week
A workplace contact ATW can reach out to with questions
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What support you need from ATW
While the other sections are straightforward, this section requires you to explain and justify what support you’re asking for
You’ll need to go through 7 different support categories and state whether you’d like to receive that type of support
For each support category, you’ll be asked to write about how having that support would help you at work
How to answer the ATW application questions
The easiest way to apply is to visit the official Access to Work website and simply fill in your answers to the questions above.
Top tip: Many people put off applying because they’re afraid they’re not describing their condition or what help they’re hoping to get quite perfectly or comprehensively. But the content of your application isn't the end-all-be-all.
Even if you skipped a support category by saying, ‘No, I don’t need this support type’, you can still get support from that category later on.
This is because once ATW gets to your application, your case manager will explore anything you couldn’t exactly answer, and you’ll have a chance to add anything you thought of in the meantime.
Your ATW assessment may also uncover that you need support you didn’t think of when you applied. The ATW assessment is like a conversation. It’s your chance to add things and make any corrections.
So don’t be held back by feeling like your application is not perfect and apply as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary delays.
What happens next? - the ATW process in a nutshell
Your ATW case manager gets in touch with you
The duration for processing applications can vary, but usual wait times range between 14-18 months. If you're set to start a new job within the upcoming month, your application will be given priority and you are looking at a 4-6 week wait time.
When it’s your turn, an Access to Work case manager will be in touch to follow up on your application. If you are unsure about what support would work best for you, they will also offer to set up an assessment for you.
During the assessment, you'll discuss:
Your current job role and work environment
The specific ways your condition affects your professional performance
It might also be necessary for the assessor to communicate with your employer and potentially schedule a workplace inspection.
Top tip: You should hang onto any receipts after you apply, as you have the option to backdate your claim.
Your grant is finalised and support is put in place
After your assessment, your case manager will finalise your grant’s details.
After about a week after your assessment, your case manager will get in touch to check you’re happy with the proposed grant. This is your last chance to change anything or make any corrections.
Depending on how many things need amending, this process can take around a month.
Once the grant is finalised, you have 13 weeks to purchase any one-off support (like special equipment). You then have 9 months after the purchase date to claim the money back from ATW.
Ongoing support (for example, support worker costs or taxi costs) can be claimed back until your grant’s end date.
What can you get?
Your ATW grant is meant to give you the support you need to continue work.
What you will get depends on your unique needs (and what you ask for!). Here are some concrete examples to inspire you.
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Cognitive and neurodiverse support
- Remarkable notepad for taking notes
- Digital software solutions (Dragon Naturally Speaking, Notion, Todoist, etc.)
- Coaching for neurodiverse conditions
- A professional organiser and tidier for your workspace
- Visual timers
- Digital and physical planners/kanban boards
- Noise cancelling headphones
- Website and app blockers
- Focus music apps
- Meditation apps
- Awareness training for work colleagues
- Computer software & hardware
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Time management and organisation
- Specialist alarm clocks
- Support workers to keep you accountable and on track (especially helpful for ADHD, dyslexia, and autism)
- Coaching
- Task management apps
- Access to a coworking space
- Smartwatch for synchronising alarms and reminders
- Task managers (Todoist, Asana, Trello)
- Time tracking (e.g. RescueTime)
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Physical mobility
- Standing desk
- Ergonomic chair
- Finger splints
- Under desk treadmill/bike
- Wobble board
- Exercise ball
- Large desk area
- Taxis or travel arrangements
- Multiple screens
- Fidget tools and stress balls
- Weighted blankets
- Adaptations to your workplace
How can I help?
Navigating the Access to Work process is known to be challenging, especially for neurodiverse people. It’s a terrific idea for sure, but the process is obscure, there’s no information about it online, and case managers are overworked and don’t have the time to explain things to you or prepare you for what’s to come.
But that's where I come in. Here's how I can make your ATW journey smoother:
Grant consultations
Have questions about ATW? Whether you're about to apply, have already done so, have a renewal coming up, or just have some questions in general, I'm here to clarify things. Employers, I've got your back too. I can help you understand your options and make the most of ATW.
Access to Work support at any stage of your journey
From preparing you ahead of your application, getting you the support worker hours you need, all the way through to implementing support, I’m by your side every step of the way.
Navigating government processes can be daunting. But having guided many through these same steps, I'm confident I can help give you the best chance of making the most of this amazing opportunity.
Let's make sure you get the support you need and deserve!
