UK Access to Work: Complete Employer Guide
What Is Access to Work?
Access to Work is a UK government grant that pays for practical support to help people with a physical or mental health condition or disability get or stay in work. It is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and covers England, Scotland and Wales.
The grant does not have to be paid back and does not affect any other benefits the employee gets. It pays for support beyond the reasonable adjustments an employer is already legally obliged to make under the Equality Act — it is not a substitute for that duty.
Who Is Eligible?
- People aged 16 or over with a physical or mental health condition or disability that means they need support to do their job or get to and from work
- In paid work, or about to start paid work (including apprenticeships, work trials, internships and self-employment — but not voluntary work)
- Living and working in England, Scotland or Wales
- Employed people can get support however much they earn or have in savings
What Is Covered?
Workplace Adjustments
- Physical changes to the workplace
- Specialist equipment and assistive software
Support Workers
- Communication support, such as a BSL interpreter
- A job coach
- A travel buddy
Travel Support
- The costs of travelling to work if the employee cannot use public transport
- Adaptations to a vehicle so the employee can get to work
Mental Health Support
- A tailored plan to help the employee get or stay in work
- One-to-one sessions with a mental health professional
- Applications go directly to one of the two providers (Able Futures or Maximus), and this support can only be received once
Job Interviews
- Communication support at a job interview, for example for candidates who are deaf or hard of hearing
Grant Amounts
| Support Type | Maximum Amount |
|---|---|
| All support combined (2024-25 and 2025-26) | Up to £69,260 per person per year |
DWP typically approves support for three years at a time. Depending on the size of the organisation, employers may be asked to contribute to some costs; self-employed people and mental health support are exempt from this cost sharing.
How to Apply
Employee-Led Process
- The employee checks their eligibility and applies online or by calling the Access to Work helpline: 0800 121 7479 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- An Access to Work case manager contacts the employee and the employer to agree the support needed
- A grant decision is issued
- The employee or employer arranges the support — some costs may need to be paid up front
- Costs are claimed back (claims must be made within 9 months)
Plan for Delays
Processing times have grown. The National Audit Office found the average time to process an application rose from 28 working days in 2021-22 to 66 working days in 2024-25, reaching 109 days in November 2025. Encourage employees to apply as early as possible — they can apply up to 12 weeks before starting a job.
Employer Role
- Support the application process
- Provide workplace information to the case manager
- Implement agreed adjustments
- Submit or support claims for reimbursement
Resources
- Access to Work: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
- Access to Work factsheet for employers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-guide-for-employers/access-to-work-factsheet-for-employers
- Helpline: 0800 121 7479