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Practical guide11 min read

Access to Work: what you can ask for and how to apply

A practical, step-by-step guide to what Access to Work can fund, how to apply, and how to ask for the right support with confidence.

Checked June 2026

Illustration for guide: Access to Work: what you can ask for and how to apply
Workplace
Applies to
Not specified — check the official sources below
Who it’s for
Disabled workers and jobseekers
Evidence
Official and primary sources linked below

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Your answer

The answer in 30 seconds

  • Access to Work can help with extra disability-related work costs.
  • It can support equipment, software, travel, support workers and communication support.
  • It does not replace your employer's duty to make reasonable adjustments.
  • Explain the work barrier, the impact and the support you need.
  • Keep copies of applications, decisions, receipts and emails.

Your next moves

Do these first

  1. 1List your main work barriers and the tasks they affect.
  2. 2Check GOV.UK eligibility and what Access to Work may fund.
  3. 3Gather job details, employer contacts, and quotes before you apply.

Full guide

Step-by-step

1

Understand what Access to Work is

Access to Work is a UK government support scheme that can help disabled people and people with health conditions get or stay in work. It can help with extra work-related costs linked to disability or a health condition.

Access to Work can support things like specialist equipment, assistive software, support workers, travel support, workplace adaptations, mental health support and communication support at interviews.

Important: Access to Work does not replace your employer's duty to make reasonable adjustments. Your employer may still need to remove barriers, change policies, provide equipment, adjust working patterns or make workplace changes.

  • Access to Work is usually for extra support linked to your disability or health condition.
  • Your employer may still be responsible for reasonable adjustments.
  • Access to Work can sometimes advise your employer about support needs.
  • You can apply if you are working, about to start work, self-employed, or attending certain interviews.

What to do

Someone cannot use public transport safely because of their condition. Their employer may need to consider reasonable adjustments, but Access to Work may also help with travel support if the need is linked to getting to or staying in work.
2

Work out what support you might need

Before applying, get clear about what is making work difficult. Access to Work is more likely to make sense when you can explain the barrier, how it affects your work, and what support could help.

Start with the problem, not the product. Do not just say “I need equipment”. Explain what task is difficult and why.

  • A barrier might be physical, sensory, communication-related, cognitive, travel-related, pain-related, fatigue-related or mental-health-related.
  • Support should be connected to your job tasks.
  • You do not need to know the perfect solution before applying, but you should describe what is difficult.
  • A workplace assessment may help identify the right support.

What to do

Support categories

  • Equipment and software — assistive software, ergonomic equipment, specialist chairs, adapted keyboards, speech-to-text, screen readers, specialist computer equipment.
  • Human support — support worker, job coach, BSL interpreter, lipspeaker, note taker, travel buddy.
  • Travel support — help with extra travel costs if disability or health condition means public transport is not suitable.
  • Workplace changes — physical changes to a workplace, including a home workplace if you work from home some or all of the time.
  • Mental health support — tailored support plan and one-to-one sessions through the Access to Work mental health support route.
“The main barrier is that I cannot safely travel to work using public transport because of my health condition. This affects my ability to attend work reliably. I would like Access to Work to consider travel support.”
3

Check what Access to Work may fund

Access to Work can fund practical support linked to your disability or health condition. The exact support depends on your needs, your job, your employer, and what is considered appropriate.

It can include a grant towards extra costs of working. It does not usually pay for normal business costs, standard equipment everyone needs, or reasonable adjustments your employer is legally responsible for.

  • Access to Work may help with extra costs that arise because of disability or health.
  • Your employer may still need to pay for reasonable adjustments.
  • You or your employer may sometimes need to pay costs first and claim money back.
  • Some support may require quotes, evidence or an assessment.

What to do

Common things Access to Work may help with

  • Specialist equipment
  • Assistive software
  • Support workers
  • Job coaches
  • BSL interpreters
  • Communication support at interviews
  • Travel-to-work support
  • Vehicle adaptations
  • Workplace adaptations
  • Mental health support

What it may not cover

  • Reasonable adjustments your employer should legally make
  • Standard equipment needed by all staff
  • Everyday commuting costs that are not disability-related
  • Support unrelated to your work
  • Costs that have not been approved properly
  • Retrospective spending unless Access to Work agrees
If someone needs screen-reading software because of a visual impairment, Access to Work may consider support. If the issue is simply that the employer has not provided a basic laptop for the job, that is more likely to be an employer responsibility.
4

Prepare before you apply

Before applying, prepare the information you will need. A rushed application can become vague. A strong application explains your work situation, your barriers, and the support you think may help.

You do not need to write a legal argument. You need to describe the practical impact clearly.

  • You will usually need your contact details.
  • You will need workplace details.
  • You may need a workplace contact.
  • You may need your National Insurance number if you have it.
  • If self-employed, you may need business or tax details.
  • You need to explain how your condition affects your work.

What to do

Information to prepare

  • Your job title or type of work
  • Your workplace address and postcode
  • Your employer or workplace contact details
  • How your condition affects work
  • What tasks are difficult
  • What support you already have
  • What support you think you need
  • Any reports, assessments, or examples that explain the barriers
  • Details of upcoming start date or interview if relevant
“My role involves regular computer use, meetings and travel to the workplace. Because of my condition, I experience barriers with workstation setup, fatigue and travel. I would like support to identify suitable equipment and travel options.”
5

Apply and handle the assessment

You can apply for Access to Work online or by phone. After you apply, an adviser may contact you for more information. They may ask about your condition, your job, the barriers you face, and what support you think you need.

Sometimes Access to Work may arrange an assessment or ask for more details before making a decision.

  • Be practical and specific.
  • Keep notes of calls and emails.
  • Ask what happens next and when you should expect an update.
  • Do not buy expensive equipment before approval unless you are clearly told it is okay.
  • If your employer is contacted, Access to Work should usually ask for your permission first.

What to do

Example call notes template

  • Date:
  • Who I spoke to:
  • What they asked:
  • What I explained:
  • Documents requested:
  • Next step:
  • Expected timescale:
“The key issue is not just my diagnosis. The work barrier is that [task/environment/travel] is difficult because [impact]. The support I think may help is [support], because it would allow me to [work outcome].”
6

Use, review or challenge the decision

Once Access to Work makes a decision, read the letter carefully. Check what has been approved, how much has been approved, who pays first, how claims are made, and when the grant ends.

If the support is wrong, missing, delayed or unclear, ask questions quickly. If your circumstances change, you may need to update Access to Work. If you use ongoing support, you may need to renew before the award ends.

  • The decision letter matters. Keep it safe.
  • Check exactly what has and has not been approved.
  • Understand whether you or your employer needs to pay first and claim back.
  • Keep receipts, invoices and evidence.
  • Review whether the support actually works.
  • Ask for reconsideration or further advice if the decision does not meet your needs.

What to do

Example follow-up wording

  • “Thank you for the decision. Please could you clarify what support has been approved, who is responsible for arranging it, whether costs need to be paid up front, and what evidence is needed to claim the money back?”

Example review wording

  • “The support has helped with [issue], but the barrier remains because [problem]. Please could this be reviewed and alternative support considered?”
Keep a simple log: decision date, approved items, who pays first, renewal date, and whether the support is actually reducing the work barrier.

Access Stamp AI

Use this guide, don’t just read it

These tools stay grounded in this guide and its sources. Choose the job you need help with.

Make this relevant to meGet a sourced plan based on what is happening to you.Explain this simplyTell us which part is confusing and get a plain-English explanation.Draft this for meTurn the guide into wording for an email, request or complaint.Build my checklistReduce the guide to the actions and evidence you need to keep track of.

Preparation

What to prepare

Only gather what genuinely helps with this process; you do not need paperwork for the sake of it.

Ready-to-use wording

Templates

Barrier → solution table (for your notes)

When you need wording you can copy and adapt for email, letter, or conversation.

Task: Video calls / screen work
Barrier: Eye strain and pain after 20 minutes; cannot sustain full working day
Support requested: Large monitor, text-to-speech software, scheduled breaks protocol
Estimated cost: [quote]
How it enables work: Completes core hours without missing deadlines
Access to Work application prep checklist (DOCX) →
Work barriers and support needs worksheet (DOCX) →
Access to Work call notes template (DOCX) →
Decision review email template (DOCX) →

Problems and refusals

If things go wrong

  • Ask for written reasons and whether another solution could be funded instead.
  • Request a review of the decision through the AtW dispute route (check current GOV.UK process).
  • Raise reasonable adjustments with your employer in parallel — AtW is additional, not a replacement.
  • Asking for items unrelated to work (home-only equipment without work link).
  • Assuming AtW replaces the employer’s duty to make reasonable adjustments.
  • Buying equipment before approval without checking payment rules.
  • Vague applications (“I need a better chair”) without linking to tasks and hours.

Common questions

Practical answers you can use straight away — expand any question for next steps, example wording, and related help.

No. Your employer still has a duty to make reasonable adjustments. Access to Work can help with extra costs that may not be reasonable for the employer to cover alone, such as specialist equipment, travel, or support workers.

What to do next

  • Document workplace barriers with your employer in parallel.
  • Apply for Access to Work with work-linked examples and quotes.
  • Do not buy equipment before approval unless GOV.UK guidance confirms you can.

Access to Work help card

Trust and checking

Official sources

Use these to check the underlying rule or process, especially if your circumstances are unusual.

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