# What Is Access to Work? A Plain-English Guide Source: https://inkfire.co.uk/what-is-access-to-work/ Beta update This website is still being built and refined. Some pages, links and content are still being updated. [Skip to content](#content) Blog 7 mins read1,353 words # What Is Access to Work? A Plain-English Guide Access to Work is a government grant for disabled people and people with health conditions. Who can get it, what it pays for and how to apply, in plain English. [\[Image: Sonny\] Written bySonny](https://inkfire.co.uk/author/sonny/) - [Sonny](https://inkfire.co.uk/author/sonny/) - [November 3, 2026](https://inkfire.co.uk/2026/11/03/) - 7:05 pm - [No Comments](https://inkfire.co.uk/what-is-access-to-work/#respond) #### Table of Contents [Image: Female Programmer Looking at Coworker.] Access to Work is a government scheme that helps disabled people, and people with a physical or mental health condition, get into work and stay there. It can pay for practical support at work that goes beyond what your employer has to provide. A common assumption is that it’s only for wheelchair users, or only for people with a formal diagnosis. Neither is true. Here’s what Access to Work is, who it’s for and what it can pay for, in plain English. ## Access to Work in a nutshell Access to Work is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It offers three kinds of help: - **a grant for practical support at work**, which is what most people mean when they say “Access to Work” - **support with managing your mental health at work** - **money for communication support at job interviews** The grant doesn’t have to be paid back, and it doesn’t affect any other benefits you get. ## Who is Access to Work for? It’s for people whose disability or health condition means they need support to do their job, or to get to and from work. Gov.uk gives a wide range of examples: - physical disabilities, for example if you’re hard of hearing or use a wheelchair - learning disabilities - developmental conditions, such as autism - ADHD or dyslexia - illnesses, such as diabetes or epilepsy - mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression - temporary conditions, like a broken leg You don’t need a diagnosis to apply. If you have ADHD, we’ve written a separate guide to [Access to Work for ADHD](https://inkfire.co.uk/access-to-work-adhd/). ### The basic rules To be eligible, you need to: - be 16 or over - be in paid work, or starting or going back to paid work within the next 12 weeks - live and work (or be about to) in England, Scotland or Wales Northern Ireland has a different system, and the scheme doesn’t cover the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. ### What counts as paid work? More than you might think. Full-time and part-time jobs count, and so do self-employment, apprenticeships, work trials and work experience, internships and work placements. Working from home counts too. If you’re employed, it doesn’t matter how much you earn or have in savings. If you’re self-employed, you’ll need an annual turnover of at least £6,500. Voluntary work isn’t covered. And if you’re a civil servant, your employer provides support instead of Access to Work. ## What can Access to Work pay for? The grant pays for support that removes a barrier your disability or condition creates at work. There’s no fixed list to pick from. Your needs are assessed, and the support is matched to your job. Type of support | Examples | Specialist equipment and assistive software | Equipment or software that removes a specific barrier in your job | Support workers | A BSL interpreter, a job coach or a travel buddy | Travel to work | Help with the cost of getting to work 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, including your home if you work from there | Disability awareness training | Training for the people you work with | Moving equipment | Moving your equipment if you change job or location | You or your employer might need to pay for some things up front and claim the money back, so keep every invoice and receipt. ## What Access to Work doesn’t pay for Access to Work doesn’t pay for reasonable adjustments. Those are the changes your employer has to make by law, under the Equality Act 2010, and the cost sits with them. The grant is for support that goes further than that. The line isn’t always obvious. Access to Work will advise your employer if a change should be made as a reasonable adjustment. ## How much is it worth? For grants awarded or reviewed between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, the maximum is £69,260 per person per year. That’s a ceiling, not a typical award. What you’re offered depends on what you need. Some employers also share the cost of equipment and adaptations. We’ve broken all of this down in our guide to [how much an Access to Work grant is](https://inkfire.co.uk/how-much-is-access-to-work-grant/). ### Will it affect my benefits? No. The grant doesn’t affect any other benefits you get. You can get Access to Work at the same time as most benefits, as long as you work more than one hour a week. If you get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), you can get both if you work less than 16 hours a week, and your work coach can give you advice. ## Mental health support at work Access to Work also offers mental health support: a tailored plan to help you get or stay in work, and one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional. This route works differently. You apply directly to one of two organisations, Able Futures or Maximus, not both. And you can only get this support once. ## Help at job interviews Access to Work can pay for communication support at a job interview. If you’re deaf or have hearing loss, that could be a BSL interpreter or lipspeaker. Communication support is also available if you have a physical or mental health condition or a learning difficulty. The eligibility rules for interview support are different, so check the [Access to Work guidance on gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work) first. ## What employers need to know If you employ someone who uses Access to Work, a few things are worth knowing: - It doesn’t replace reasonable adjustments. Those are still your responsibility. - Your employee may name a workplace contact to confirm they work for you. Access to Work won’t contact you without their permission. - If your employee had worked for you for more than 6 weeks when they applied, you may have to share the cost of equipment and adaptations. Employers with fewer than 50 staff don’t have to. - The grant pays back the agreed cost of support. It doesn’t provide the support itself, so someone needs to arrange it. The official [employer factsheet](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-guide-for-employers/access-to-work-factsheet-for-employers) on gov.uk has the full detail. ## How do you apply? You can apply online on gov.uk or by phoning the Access to Work helpline on 0800 121 7479 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). If you can’t hear or speak on the phone, use Relay UK: dial 18001 then 0800 121 7479. There’s a British Sign Language video relay service too. Before you start, it helps to have your workplace details ready and a clear idea of how your condition affects your work. Our step-by-step guide to the [Access to Work application](https://inkfire.co.uk/access-to-work-application/) walks you through it. ## Is Access to Work changing? Demand has grown fast. In [May 2026, DWP said](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/huge-recruitment-boost-to-tackle-backlog-in-vital-disability-work-scheme) claims had more than doubled since 2018/19, with around 60,000 people waiting for a decision. It’s recruiting more staff to bring waiting times down, and says wider reforms are also being considered. That announcement didn’t say what those reforms would be. Rules can change, so check the [Access to Work pages on gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work) for the current position before you apply. ## How Inkfire can help Inkfire is a disabled-led team. Through our [Access to Work support](https://inkfire.co.uk/services/business-support/), we help individuals and employers understand the process, prepare applications and put awarded support into practice. Decisions about your claim are made by Access to Work, not by us. If you’d like a hand, [get in touch](https://inkfire.co.uk/contact-us/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Access to Work a loan? No. It’s a grant, so you won’t have to pay it back. It doesn’t affect any other benefits you get. ### Do I need a diagnosis to get Access to Work? No. You don’t need a diagnosis to apply. What matters is how your disability or condition affects your work. ### Can I get Access to Work if I’m self-employed? Yes, as long as your business has an annual turnover of at least £6,500. You’ll need your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) when you apply. ### Does Access to Work cover working from home? Yes. If you work from home, your home counts as a workplace. ### Can I get Access to Work for voluntary work? No. Access to Work only covers paid work. ### Is there Access to Work in Northern Ireland? Northern Ireland has its own scheme, Access to Work (NI). The scheme on gov.uk covers England, Scotland and Wales. Accessibility options ### Customise your reading experience 7 min read 1,353 words Accessibility tools Ready. [Image: Author] Written bySonny Share: Browse topics [Accessible Tech](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/accessible-tech/)[Back to work](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/back-to-work/)[Blog](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/blog/)[Case Studies](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/case-studies/)[Client Stories](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/client-stories/)[Featured](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/featured/)[Founders & Mentoring](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/founders-mentoring/)[Inclusive Marketing](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/inclusive-marketing/)[Press, Media & Community Highlights](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/press-and-media/)[SEO](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/seo/) Read next [Access to Work Application: How to Apply, Step by Step3 November 2026](https://inkfire.co.uk/access-to-work-application/)[How Much Is an Access to Work Grant?3 November 2026](https://inkfire.co.uk/how-much-is-access-to-work-grant/)[Our Festive Opening Hours 2026/273 November 2026](https://inkfire.co.uk/festive-opening-hours/)[Charity website design: building a site people trust3 November 2026](https://inkfire.co.uk/charity-website-design/)[Website accessibility audit: what gets tested and what you get3 November 2026](https://inkfire.co.uk/website-accessibility-audit/) #### Table of Contents ### Explore ### Related Posts [All Posts](https://inkfire.co.uk/blog/) [Image: Inkfire wallpaper graphic in dark navy and teal tones.] - [Featured](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/featured/), [Whats new at inkfire](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/news/) ### [Unveiling Inkfire: a new era of accessibility](https://inkfire.co.uk/unveiling-inkfire-a-new-era-of-accessibility/) Today, we are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in Inkfire’s evolution – we not only have a new look thanks to a transformative rebrand, 3 min read514 words - [February 6, 2024](https://inkfire.co.uk/2024/02/06/) [Image: A young man sitting on the floor, surrounded by paper documents and a laptop on his lap.] - [Blog](https://inkfire.co.uk/category/blog/) ### [Access to Work Application: How to Apply, Step by Step](https://inkfire.co.uk/access-to-work-application/) How to make an Access to Work application: what to have ready, how to apply online or by phone, and what happens next. 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