What is Access to Work?

The front cover of an Access to Work benefits leaflet

Access to Work is help to get, or stay in work, that some people with a disability or health condition can get.    

A woman is helping a man in a wheelchair to do some work at a computer

Access to Work help can include money called a grant.

You can apply for a grant to help pay for support with your work.

A man being interviewed, with somebody sat next to him to support him.

You can apply for money to help you to communicate at interviews. 

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You can apply for support with managing your mental health at work.  

This might include a plan to help you get or stay in work, or one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional. 

A pile of money next to a picture of a taxi, a ramp and someone being helped to write something at a desk

You can apply for money to help to pay for things you need to help you do your job like:  

  • special equipment
  • physical changes to your workplace
  • taxi journeys to and from work if you cannot use public transport
  • a support worker  or job coach to help you at work
  • disability awareness training for the people you work with
A detached brick house with a white door

Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time. 

A man is teaching an intern how to use some equipment. Both are wearing high visibility vests

Can I get Access to Work help?

To get Access to Work help you must:

Eligibility for Access to Work help

  • A disability can include a physical disability or a learning disability .  
  • A health condition can include a broken leg, or a mental health condition like anxiety.  
  • An illness can include diabetes or epilepsy.
  • You can not get Access to Work to help you with voluntary work.  
  • You can not get Access to Work if you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.  

The full eligibility criteria for claiming Access to Work can be found on the government’s website.  This includes additional information about:  

  • your illness, disability or health condition
  • your work
  • claiming Access to Work if you get New Style Employment and Support Allowance 
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Work Meeting at Mencap

What checks are needed to get Access to Work help?

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will need to check:

  • your workplace
  • how your disability or health condition affects your work

How much is Access to Work?

There is no fixed amount of Access to Work money.    

You or your employer may need to pay some of the costs and claim them back later. 

Easy Reads about Access to Work

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What is Access to Work help?

 

Apply for Access to Work grant easy read image

How to apply for Access to Work help

 

Getting your Access to Work grant easy read image

Getting your Access to Work money

 

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How to apply for Access to Work help

To find out how to apply for Access to Work, we have created a straightforward step-by-step digital guide to take you through the application process. 

Find out more →
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Frequently asked questions about Access to Work

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Can I claim Access to Work help?

To get Access to Work help you must:  

  • have a physical or mental health condition or a disability that means you need support to do your job, or to get to and from your job  
  • be 16 or over  
  • have paid work (or be about to start, or return to, paid work in the next 12 weeks)
  • live and work (or be about to start, or return to work) in England, Wales or Scotland  

The full eligibility criteria for claiming Access to Work can be found on the government’s website. 

Can I claim Access to Work if I live in Northern Ireland?

No.  There is different help available for people in Northern Ireland. 

Read about the help that you can get if you live in Northern Ireland and have a disability

Can I claim Access to Work if I get New Style Employment and Support Allowance?

You can get Access to Work and New Style Employment and support Allowance at the same time if you work less than 16 hours a week.  

The government’s website tells you about working while claiming New Style Employment and Support Allowance.

What counts as a disability or health condition for claiming Access to Work?

A disability can include a physical disability or a learning disability.  

A health condition can include a temporary condition like a broken leg, a developmental condition like autism spectrum disorder, or a mental health condition like anxiety.  

An illness can include diabetes or epilepsy.

The full eligibility criteria for claiming Access to Work can be found on the government’s website.   

What counts as paid work?

Paid work can be full or part-time and can include:

  • employment
  • self-employment
  • an apprenticeship
  • a work trial or work experience
  • an internship
  • a work placement

What help can Access to Work give me at a job interview?

The government website has information about applying to Access to Work for communication support at a job interview. 

What type of help does Access to Work give me?

You can apply for support with managing your mental health at work.  This might include a plan to help you get or stay in work, or one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional.

You can apply for money to help to pay for things you need to help you to do your job like:  

  • special equipment
  • physical changes to your workplace
  • taxi journeys to and from work if you cannot use public transport
  • a support worker or job coach to help you at work
  • disability awareness training for the people you work with 

If I get Access to Work will it affect my other benefits?

If you get an Access to Work grant, it will not affect any other benefits you get and you will not have to pay it back. 

The information on this page is for  guidance  only. Mencap hold no responsibility for DWP processes, timescales, decisions, and service.