If you have ADHD and work is harder than it needs to be, Access to Work might be able to help. It’s easy to assume the scheme is only for physical disabilities. It isn’t.
Access to Work is a government grant for people with a disability or a physical or mental health condition who are in work, or about to start. Gov.uk lists ADHD as an example condition, right alongside autism and dyslexia. And you don’t need a diagnosis to apply.
Here’s what it can pay for, who can apply, and how to give yourself the best chance.
What Access to Work actually does
It helps you get into work or stay in work. There’s no fixed list of “ADHD equipment” you pick from. Instead, your needs are assessed, and the support is matched to your job.
That’s important. Two people with the same job title and the same diagnosis can get different support, because the assessment looks at your tasks, where you work and what would make a real difference.
Who can apply?
You can apply if:
- you’re 16 or over
- you live and work (or are about to) in England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland has its own scheme
- you have a disability or a physical or mental health condition that affects your work
- you’re in paid work, or starting or going back to paid work within the next 12 weeks
Paid work means more than a permanent full-time job. It covers part-time work, self-employment, apprenticeships, work trials, internships and work placements. If you’re self-employed, you’ll need an annual turnover of at least £6,500 and a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR).
Voluntary work isn’t covered. And if you’re a civil servant, your employer provides the support instead.
What can an Access to Work grant pay for?
Think of this as the kind of support available, not a menu. Your assessment decides what you’re offered.
| Type of support | What it can cover |
|---|---|
| Specialist equipment and assistive software | Equipment or software that removes a specific barrier in your job |
| Support workers | For example, a job coach who helps you learn the role or stay in it |
| Travel to work | Help with travel costs if you can’t use public transport |
| Vehicle adaptations | Changes to a vehicle so you can get to work |
| Changes to your workplace | Physical changes to where you work, which can include your home |
Because your workplace can include your home, remote and hybrid working count too. If your setup at home is quietly costing you hours every week, that’s worth mentioning.
Can Access to Work pay for ADHD coaching?
It can. Support workers, such as a job coach, are within what the grant can fund, and whether that includes ADHD coaching is decided case by case through your assessment. So nobody can promise you a set number of sessions beforehand.
What you can control is how clearly you explain your situation. Name the parts of your job that are hard. Say what you’ve already tried and what happened. Explain what would change if the support was in place. You’re not trying to persuade anyone. You’re giving the assessor something concrete to work with.
Mental health support is a separate route
Access to Work also offers mental health support at work: a tailored support plan and one-to-one sessions. This is a separate route from the main grant.
It’s delivered by two organisations, Able Futures and Maximus. You apply to one of them, not both, and you can only claim this support once.
How much is an Access to Work grant?
For grants awarded or reviewed between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, the cap is £69,260 per person per year. That’s the maximum, not a typical amount. What you get depends on your assessment. You’ll see older figures online, so check the current cap on gov.uk before you plan around a number.
The grant doesn’t have to be paid back, and it doesn’t affect your other benefits. You or your employer might need to pay for some things up front and claim the money back, so keep your receipts.
Access to Work or reasonable adjustments: who pays?
Access to Work doesn’t pay for reasonable adjustments. Those are the changes your employer must legally make, and the cost sits with them. The grant is for support that goes beyond that.
The line isn’t always obvious, so it’s worth agreeing who’s paying for what before anything is ordered.
How to apply, step by step
- Check you’re eligible. Your age, where you live and whether you’re in (or about to start) paid work are the three big ones.
- Map your week first. Before you write anything, go through your tasks and note where you lose time, focus or confidence.
- Link each request to a barrier. If you’re asking for coaching, say which tasks it would help with and how.
- Apply on gov.uk. That’s where the current application form and contact details are.
- Get ready for the assessment. You may be contacted to talk through your needs. Have real examples ready.
- Put the support in place. Check what you or your employer need to pay up front and claim back.
- Review it. Support that looked right on paper sometimes needs tweaking once it meets your actual job.
What to have ready
- a plain description of your role and main tasks
- the tasks you find hardest, with an example or two for each
- what you’ve already tried, including anything that helped
- proof of work: a contract or start date, or your self-employment details (turnover and UTR)
Keep it simple. You’re describing a job and what gets in the way. You’re not trying to prove anything to a sceptic.
Making the support work once it’s agreed
Getting the award is the start, not the end. Equipment arrives and sits in a box. Coaching gets booked, then clashes with a regular meeting. Your role changes and the support doesn’t. These are normal, fixable problems, but only if someone notices.
Set yourself a review point. Jot down what the support is meant to change. And if something isn’t working, say so early rather than waiting months for a formal review.
How Inkfire can help
We’re a disabled-led team, and we offer Access to Work support for individuals and employers. We’ll help you understand the process, prepare your application, and make sure the support you’re awarded actually works in practice.
Decisions about your claim are made by Access to Work, not by us. What we can do is sit alongside you through the fiddly bits. The official guidance is on gov.uk, and if you’d like a hand, get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an Access to Work grant?
For grants awarded or reviewed between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, the cap is £69,260 per person per year. That’s the maximum, not a standard amount. What you’re offered depends on your assessment.
Can Access to Work pay for ADHD coaching?
It can. Support workers such as job coaches are within what the grant can fund, and ADHD coaching is decided case by case through your assessment. The strongest applications link the coaching to specific tasks and explain what would change.
Do I need an ADHD diagnosis to apply?
No. Gov.uk lists ADHD as an example condition and you don’t need a diagnosis to apply. You do still need to meet the other rules: be 16 or over, live and work in England, Scotland or Wales, and be in paid work or starting it within 12 weeks.
Can I get both Access to Work and mental health support?
Mental health support at work is a separate route. You apply to either Able Futures or Maximus (only one), and you can only claim it once.
Does Access to Work affect my benefits?
No. The grant doesn’t affect your other benefits and doesn’t have to be paid back. You or your employer may need to pay some costs up front and claim them back.
