How to apply for Access to Work help
How to apply for Access to Work help
What is Access to Work?
Access to Work is help to get, or stay in work, that some people with a disability or health condition can get.
This
Easy Read
Easy Read is a way of making written information easier to understand. Pictures are usually added next to the writing.
tells you how to apply for Access to Work help.
Step 1: Check that you can get Access to Work
To see if you could get Access to Work, read our What is Access to Work help? Easy Read page.
Step 2: Make sure you have everything you will need
Before you apply for Access to Work you will need to know:
- your name, address and telephone number
- your date of birth
- your
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
Tax is the money that people pay to the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a
pension
A pension is money you get when you are older to pay for the things you need. You can pay money into your pension when you are working so there is more money for when you are older.
when you are older.
number if you have one
You can find your National Insurance number on any letters you have had about your tax, pensions or benefits.
- your bank or building society account number and sort code
- the address and postcode of the place where you work
- the name and contact details of someone where you work
This is so they can say that you work there.
- information about how your disability or health condition affects your work
- information about the support you think you need
Step 3: Apply for Access to Work help
You can apply for Access to Work help online, or by contacting the Access to Work helpline.
- Phone: 0800 121 7479.
- Textphone: 0800 121 7579.
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479. Relay UK helps people who can not hear or speak on the phone.
The Access to Work helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00 - 5.00.
What happens after you have applied for Access to Work?
Someone from Access to Work will contact you about your application.
If you find it difficult to talk on the phone, you can ask Access to Work to contact you by email, or to contact someone else who can talk to them about your application.
The person from Access to Work might want:
- more information about your work, your disability or health condition
- to ask if it is OK for them to speak to your employer
- to arrange for someone to contact you or to see where you work, so they can find out what changes might help you at work
You will get a letter which will tell you if you will get help from Access to Work.
If you can get help from Access to Work, the letter will tell you:
- how much money you will get. The money is called a grant
- what you can use the grant to pay for
- how long your grant will last
To find out how to claim the money from your grant, read our Getting your Access to Work money Easy Read.
The information on this page is for
guidance
Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well.
only. Mencap hold no responsibility for DWP processes, timescales, decisions, and service.
This Easy Read was first published 16/01/2024
Last updated: 16/01/2024