Access to Work

To be eligible for the Access to Work scheme, you must be over 16 years of age, currently employed or self-employed in England, Scotland, or Wales (the scheme operates differently in Northern Ireland), and have a disability, health condition, or mental health condition that affects your ability to do a job on a day-to-day basis or that requires you to pay work-related costs.

The Access to Work scheme can provide funding for a wide range of support, including reasonable adjustments to your workplace or work environment, specialised equipment, such as a hearing aid or screen reader, a support worker, such as a sign language interpreter, and travel costs or other work-related costs that arise as a result of your disability or health condition. The type and amount of support provided will depend on your individual needs and the nature of your job.

To apply for the Access to Work scheme, you can call the Access to Work helpline on 0800 121 7479 or apply online through the GOV.UK website. You will need to provide information about your condition, the job you are in or about to start, and the support you need to do your job effectively.

Once you have registered for the Access to Work scheme, you will be assigned a support advisor who will work with you to assess your needs and determine the support you require. The advisor will provide you with a written statement of support that outlines the assistance you will receive and how it will be funded. This may include a workplace assessment to identify any adaptations or equipment that would help you to do your job effectively and reasonable adjustments to your workplace to accommodate your needs.

The amount of funding provided by the Access to Work scheme varies depending on your needs and the type of support required. The scheme can provide funding for up to 100% of the cost of support, with a maximum limit of £65,180 per year. The grant does not need to be repaid.