Guide 4 of 6 · In work, or about to be
Access to Work: the grant almost nobody claims
Up to £69,260 a year in workplace support — and most eligible people have never heard it exists.
Access to Work is a government grant, not a loan, that funds whatever a disabled or neurodivergent person needs to actually do their job. It's separate from your employer's own duty to make reasonable adjustments — this is money DWP pays directly, on top of that.
Who qualifies
- Aged 16+, living and working in England, Scotland or Wales
- In paid work — employed, self-employed (minimum £6,500 annual turnover), an apprenticeship, or a work trial/placement — or starting a job within the next 12 weeks
- Have a physical or mental health condition or disability that affects how you do your job
You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply. It helps to be able to explain your access needs, but "I don't have an official diagnosis yet" is not a reason to wait.
What it actually pays for
Two separate strands:
- Practical work support — assistive technology, a support worker or job coach, BSL interpreters, travel to work if public transport isn't accessible to you, workplace adaptations, and more. A workplace assessment (which Access to Work can also fund) is often what identifies exactly what's needed.
- Mental health support — a separate, one-off allowance, usable once per applicant, specifically for mental-health-related workplace support.
How to apply
Apply online, or by phone on the Access to Work helpline. You'll need: your contact details and workplace address, a description of how your condition affects your work and what support you think would help, your employer's contact details (if employed), and your Unique Taxpayer Reference if self-employed.
Set your timeline expectations honestly. DWP's target is 25 working days, but the real average was 109 days in 2024/25, and some applicants are being told to expect waits of up to 37 weeks, with a backlog of over 60,000 applications (National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee reporting, 2026). Apply as early as you can — up to 6 weeks before a job starts if you have a start date, and immediately if you're already in work and struggling. Don't wait for a crisis point to apply.
What actually helps an application
The same principle as everywhere else in this system: specificity wins. "I have ADHD" tells an assessor nothing actionable. "I lose track of time without visual or audio reminders, and open-plan noise makes it hard to sustain focus past 20 minutes" points directly at what to fund — a job coach, noise-cancelling equipment, task-management software, whatever fits.