Access to Work, explained in full

What it pays for

Access to Work funds the practical support you need to do your job that goes beyond what your employer must provide as reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Examples that are routinely funded:

• Equipment — adjustable chairs, height-adjustable desks, screen-reading software, voice-recognition (Dragon), noise-cancelling headphones, ergonomic mice, large monitors
• Travel to work — taxis where you cannot use public transport because of your disability, mileage where you cannot drive
• Support worker — a job coach, a BSL interpreter, a note-taker, a personal assistant for tasks you cannot do
• Communication support — BSL interpreters for meetings, palantypists, lipspeakers
• Mental Health Support Service — up to 9 months of vocational support with a specialist provider (see below)
• Awareness training for your colleagues

Who qualifies

• You are 16 or over
• You live and work in England, Scotland or Wales (separate scheme in NI)
• You have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your ability to do your job
• You are in paid work, about to start a paid job (apply up to 12 weeks before), self-employed and already trading, or on a Government-funded apprenticeship or work trial

You do not need a formal diagnosis. You do need to be able to describe how the condition affects your work and what support would help.

How much you can get

The annual cap for new awards in 2025/26 is £69,260 per person. Existing awards above the cap remain in place. The average award is around £4,500/year, and most claims are for a single piece of equipment or a few months of support.

Cost share:

• Self-employed and new starters (first 6 weeks): DWP usually pays 100%
• Existing employees: DWP pays 80%, employer 20% — but for amounts under £1,000 in the first year and over £10,000 DWP often funds 100%
• Travel to work: usually 100% DWP-funded

Mental Health Support Service

A separate strand of Access to Work for employees and self-employed people struggling with stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions affecting work. Up to 9 months of one-to-one support from a specialist provider (Maximus, Remploy or Able Futures, depending on area). Includes a wellness plan, coping strategies, signposting to therapy, and liaison with your employer where helpful.

This strand is not subject to the £69,260 cap. Decisions are faster — usually 4–6 weeks. Apply via the same Access to Work form on gov.uk.

How to apply

Apply at gov.uk/access-to-work/apply. You can apply by phone on 0800 121 7479. The application asks about your condition, your role, and what support you think you need. You don't need quotes or evidence at this point — an adviser will help work that out.

Be specific about the impact. "I have ADHD and struggle in open-plan offices" is weaker than "ADHD with significant auditory distractibility — currently miss meeting actions, lose 1–2 hours/day to interruptions; noise-cancelling headphones and a fortnightly ADHD work-coach would help."

Current waits: 4–6 months for a decision in 2026 due to the backlog. You can start the job while waiting and claim retrospectively for support you arrange in the meantime.

If refused or under-awarded

• Reconsideration. Ask Access to Work to reconsider within 28 days. Add anything new — quotes, specialist letters, examples of how the under-award affects your work.
• Complaint. Go through the DWP complaints process if the decision was procedurally flawed (e.g. evidence ignored).
• Independent Case Examiner. Once DWP complaints exhausted, the ICE can review.
• Reasonable adjustments. Anything Access to Work declines may still be your employer's duty under the Equality Act 2010. Raise it through HR or as a flexible working request.

Frequently asked questions