What is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a government grant that helps pay for practical support if you have a disability, health condition, or mental health condition that affects your work. It can cover things like specialist equipment, support workers, travel costs, and communication support — up to £66,000 per year.

How much can I get from Access to Work?

There's no fixed amount — it depends on what support you need. The maximum grant is approximately £66,000 per year (2026/27 rate). Most awards are much smaller, covering specific items like ergonomic equipment or part-time support workers.

Do I have to pay anything towards Access to Work?

If you're employed, your employer may need to contribute towards some costs (specifically equipment that any employee might need). The exact amount depends on your employer's size and the type of support. There's no cost-sharing for self-employed people, Jobcentre Plus support, or most forms of specialist equipment.

Can I get Access to Work if I'm self-employed?

Yes. Access to Work is available whether you're employed, self-employed, or about to start a job. Self-employed people don't need to contribute towards costs like employed people's employers might.

Access to Work Grant Guide UK 2026 — Support for Disabled Workers | PocketWise

Access to Work is a government grant that helps pay for practical support if you have a disability or health condition that affects your work. It can fund specialist equipment, support workers, travel assistance, and more.

For the wider cluster covering carers’ support, disability benefits and work-capability routes, use the main Carers & Disability Benefits hub.

Access to Work at a Glance

Feature	Details
Maximum grant	Approximately £66,000 per year
Who can apply	Employees, self-employed, about to start work
What’s funded	Equipment, support workers, travel, communication
Cost to you	Usually nothing directly
Means-tested	No
Taxable	No

What Can Access to Work Pay For?

Specialist Equipment

Equipment Type	Examples
Ergonomic equipment	Specialist chairs, adjustable desks, ergonomic keyboards/mice
Visual impairment	Screen magnification software, braille displays, large monitors
Hearing impairment	Amplified phones, text-to-speech software
Cognitive support	Mind-mapping software, voice recorders, specialist apps
Physical support	Wheelchair adaptations for work, lifting equipment
Mental health	Noise-cancelling headphones, specialist lighting

Communication Support

Support Type	Who It’s For
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters	Deaf BSL users
Lip-speakers	Deaf or hard of hearing
Note-takers	Deaf people in meetings/training
Speech-to-text reporters	Real-time captioning
Communication support workers	Various communication needs

Support Workers

Support	Examples
Job coach	Help learning tasks, building routines
Support worker	Practical assistance during the workday
Mental health support	Regular coaching, coping strategies
Personal reader	Help with reading for visually impaired people
Travel assistant	Support getting to/from work

Travel Costs

Travel Support	What’s Covered
Travel to work	If you can’t use public transport due to disability
Taxi fares	Full or partial funding for work travel
Adaptations to vehicle	If you need modifications to drive to work
Travel during work	Meetings, training, travel between sites

Mental Health Support

Support	Details
Workplace assessments	Specialist assessment of needs
Counselling/coaching	Regular sessions with mental health professionals
Coping strategies training	Building resilience and management techniques
Reasonable adjustments advice	Help identifying what changes would help

How Much Can You Get?

Maximum Award

Year	Maximum Annual Grant
2024/25	£65,180
2025/26	£65,180
2026/27	~£66,000 (estimate)

Important: Most awards are much smaller than the maximum. The amount you receive depends on your specific support needs.

No Fixed Amount

Type of Support	Typical Funding
Specialist chair	£300–£1,500
Screen reader software	£500–£1,500
BSL interpreter (per day)	£200–£400
Support worker (part-time)	£10,000–£25,000/year
Mental health coaching	£2,000–£8,000/year
Taxi to work	£3,000–£15,000/year

Who Pays	What They Cover
Access to Work	Most specialist support, disability-specific costs
Employer	Reasonable adjustments they would provide anyway
You	Nothing directly

Note: Employer contributions only apply to certain equipment that might benefit any employee. There’s no cost-sharing for:

Self-employed people
Support workers
Communication support
Travel costs
Mental health support

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility

Requirement	Details
Age	16 or over
Location	Living and working in England, Scotland, or Wales
Employment status	Employed, self-employed, or about to start work
Disability/condition	Physical, sensory, mental health, or learning disability that affects your work
Right to work	Legal right to work in the UK

Employment Situations

Situation	Eligible?
Employee (full-time)	Yes
Employee (part-time)	Yes
Zero-hours contract	Yes
Self-employed	Yes
Starting a new job	Yes (apply before you start)
Work trial or interview	Yes
Apprentice	Yes
Supported internship	Yes
Work experience	Case by case

Conditions That Qualify

Condition Type	Examples
Physical disability	Mobility impairments, chronic pain, dexterity issues
Sensory impairment	Blindness, low vision, deafness, hearing loss
Learning disability	Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia
Mental health	Anxiety, depression, bipolar, PTSD, OCD
Neurodivergence	Autism, ADHD
Long-term health conditions	MS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, epilepsy
Progressive conditions	Motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s

How to Apply

Application Process

Step	What Happens
1	Apply online at GOV.UK or call 0800 121 7479
2	Provide details about your condition and work
3	Access to Work adviser contacts you
4	Workplace assessment arranged (if needed)
5	Assessment report with recommendations
6	Access to Work reviews and makes decision
7	Award letter with what’s funded
8	Claim back costs or get direct funding

Information You Need

Information	Details
Your details	Name, National Insurance number, contact details
Employer details	Name, address, contact (if employed)
Your condition	Description of disability/health condition
Work impact	How your condition affects your work
Support needed	What you think would help
Starting date	When you started or will start work

Application Tips

Tip	Why It Matters
Be specific about difficulties	Helps assessor understand your needs
Describe tasks you struggle with	Links condition to workplace impact
Mention what you’ve tried	Shows you’ve considered solutions
Include any medical evidence	Supports your application
Ask your employer for support	They can provide workplace information

The Workplace Assessment

What to Expect

Aspect	Details
Who does it	Specialist assessor (occupational health, disability specialist)
Where	Your workplace, home, or virtual
Duration	1–2 hours typically
Focus	Understanding your needs and work environment
Output	Written report with recommendations

Questions You Might Be Asked

Topic	Example Questions
Your condition	How does it affect you day-to-day?
Work tasks	What do you struggle with most?
Current adjustments	What help do you have now?
What would help	What do you think you need?
Work environment	Office, home, travel requirements

Getting Paid

How Funding Works

Payment Method	How It Works
Direct payment	Access to Work pays supplier directly
Reimbursement	You pay first, then claim back
Regular payments	For ongoing costs like travel or support workers

Claiming Costs

Step	Action
1	Keep receipts/invoices for everything
2	Submit claims monthly or as costs occur
3	Claim online or by post
4	Payment within a few weeks

Common Situations

Starting a New Job

Timing	What Happens
Apply before you start	Support can be in place from day one
Apply after starting	May take time for support to arrive
Probation period	Access to Work can help ensure you succeed

Self-Employed

Feature	Self-Employed Access to Work
Cost-sharing	None — no employer contribution
What’s covered	Equipment, travel, support workers
Where you work	Home office, client sites, co-working spaces
Business type	Any — sole trader, freelance, contractor

Working from Home

Support	Available for Home Working?
Specialist equipment	Yes — desks, chairs, screens, software
Support workers	Yes — can assist remotely or in person
Mental health support	Yes — video sessions common
Travel costs	May cover travel to occasional office days

Mental Health

Support Available	Details
Workplace assessment	Specific mental health assessors available
Coping strategies	Regular coaching sessions
Workplace adjustments advice	Help negotiating with employer
Support worker	Help managing workload, meetings
Equipment	Noise-cancelling headphones, specialist lighting

Access to Work and Other Support

Benefits

Benefit	Interaction with Access to Work
PIP	Completely separate — can receive both
ESA	Separate — Access to Work for when you’re working
Universal Credit	Separate — Access to Work doesn’t affect UC
DLA	Separate — can receive both

Reasonable Adjustments

Aspect	Reasonable Adjustments	Access to Work
Legal requirement	Yes — Equality Act 2010	No — voluntary grant
Who provides	Employer	Government
What’s covered	Changes employer should make anyway	Specialist disability support
Cost	Employer pays	Government pays (mostly)

Note: Employers must make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act. Access to Work goes beyond this for disability-specific support.

Appeal and Complaints

If Your Application Is Refused

Step	Action
1	Ask for written reasons for the decision
2	Request a review if you disagree
3	Provide additional evidence if available
4	Contact a disability organisation for support

Helpful Organisations

Organisation	How They Help
Disability Rights UK	Advice on Access to Work
Citizens Advice	General benefits and rights advice
RNIB	Visual impairment support
RNID (Action on Hearing Loss)	Hearing impairment support
Mind	Mental health workplace advice

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does an Award Last?

Most awards last 3 years, with annual reviews. Some equipment is funded as a one-off purchase. Support workers and travel costs are reviewed annually.

Can I Take Equipment to a New Job?

Usually yes, if the equipment is still suitable. You may need to reapply if your needs change or you need additional support.

Does My Employer Know I’ve Applied?

Situation	Employer Knowledge
You share your application	Yes — and they may need to contribute
You don’t share it	They’ll know if support is provided at workplace
Self-employed	Not applicable

What If My Employer Won’t Cooperate?

Your employer cannot refuse Access to Work support. If they’re uncooperative:

They may be breaching the Equality Act
Contact ACAS for employment advice
Consider formal grievance procedures

Summary

Feature	Details
Maximum annual grant	~£66,000
Who can apply	Employees, self-employed, job starters
What’s covered	Equipment, support workers, travel, communication
Cost to you	Nothing directly
How long	Awards typically last 3 years
Application	Online at GOV.UK or call 0800 121 7479

Next step: Apply online at gov.uk/access-to-work or call the Access to Work helpline on 0800 121 7479.

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