The short version
Access to Work is a UK government grant that helps people with a disability or health condition stay in work. It is not a benefit, it does not affect any other payment you receive, and it is not means tested.
For a lot of neurodivergent adults, it is the thing that makes coaching affordable. Most people have never heard of it.
What it can cover
Access to Work pays for practical support at work. That includes:
- Support workers, which is the category that covers coaching and job coaching
- Specialist equipment and assistive software
- Workplace assessments
- Extra travel costs where public transport is not workable
- Communication support at interviews
Mental health support is handled through separate providers rather than the grant itself, so it is worth being clear which one you are asking for.
Who can apply
You can apply if you:
- Are 16 or over
- Have a condition that affects how you do your job
- Are in paid work, or about to start
- Live in England, Scotland or Wales
You do not need a formal diagnosis. This is the single thing that stops most people applying and it is not true. What matters is being able to explain what you find difficult at work and what would help. A diagnosis makes that conversation shorter, not possible.
Self-employment counts if you earn above the threshold. If you work for yourself, you can apply.
What it is worth
The annual cap is currently £69,260 per person. Most coaching packages sit a very long way below that.
Where the total cost is under £10,000 and you are employed, your employer is usually expected to contribute a share. Above that threshold, Access to Work covers more of it.
Figures change. Check gov.uk/access-to-work before you rely on any number here.
How to apply
1 · Apply yourself. Your employer cannot do it for you. This catches people out.
2 · Apply before you spend anything. Funding runs from the date you submit, not the date you asked. If you start paying for coaching in January and apply in March, January and February are yours.
3 · Apply online or by phone, at gov.uk/access-to-work.
4 · You can apply up to six weeks before starting a new job, as long as you have the offer in writing.
5 · Expect an assessment. Someone will talk to you about what you do, what you find hard, and what support would help.
How to talk about what you need
This is where most applications get weaker than they should be, so it is worth preparing.
Describe the task, not the diagnosis. "I lose track of long email threads and miss actions in them" lands better than "I have ADHD".
Be specific about the cost of the difficulty. Not "I struggle with organisation", but "I spent four hours last month redoing a report because I had not kept a record of the first version".
Say what has already not worked. If you have tried apps, lists and reminders and still find it hard, say so. It shows this is not a gap that a free tool fixes.
Ask for what you actually want. If it is coaching, say coaching, and say what you want the coaching to change.
How long it takes
It varies, and it can take several weeks. If you are starting a job within four weeks, say so, because those applications are prioritised.
Apply early. The wait is the most common reason people give up.
If you would like help with the application
I have supported a number of clients through this and I am happy to talk it through. There is no charge for that conversation, and you are under no obligation to work with me afterwards.
Book a free 30-minute callThis guide is general information, not formal advice, and the scheme's rules and figures change. Always check gov.uk/access-to-work for the current position.