What is Access to Work?
- The Executive Solutions Agency
- Feb 4
- 3 min read
Access to Work is a discretionary grant scheme designed to provide personalised support to those with physical health conditions, mental health conditions or disability.
Access to Work can help you get or stay in work; the level support you get will depend on your needs. Through Access to Work, you can apply for:
a grant to help pay for practical support with your work
support with managing your mental health at work
money to pay for communication support at job interviews
You can apply for Access to Work if you are:
in paid employment
self-employed
apprentices
trainees
supported interns
doing self-directed work experience
on Jobcentre Plus promoted work trials
going to a job interview
You can also apply if you have:
a job offer letter
a job start date
a letter confirming your interview
What can Access to Work provide you with?
Access to Work could give you a grant to help pay for things like specialist equipment and assistive software support workers, such as a BSL interpreter, a job coach or a travel buddy costs of travelling to work, if you cannot use public transport adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work physical changes to your workplace,
Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time.
It does not matter how much you earn. 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.
You or your employer may need to pay some costs up front and claim them back later.
How to apply
Help available for people with long-term mental health conditions
A free and confidential 'Mental Health Support Service' is available to anyone with a mental health condition through Access to Work.
You can get support to manage your mental health at work, which might include:
a tailored plan to help you get or stay in work
an assessment of your needs to identify suitable coping strategies
ideas for adjustments in the workplace or of working practice
one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional
How to apply
Check you’re eligible and then apply directly to either Able Futures or Maximus.
Communication support for job interviews:
Access to Work can help pay for communication support at a job interview if:
you’re deaf or hard of hearing and need a BSL interpreter or lip speaker
you have a physical or mental health condition or learning difficulty and need communication support
Find out more and apply for communication support at a job interview.
What Access to Work will not pay for?
Access to Work will not pay for reasonable adjustments. These are the changes your employer must legally make to support you to do your job.
Access to Work will advise your employer if changes should be made as reasonable adjustments.
How does The Executive Solutions Agency support Access To Work clients?
The Executive Solutions Agency work with clients who have received an Access to Work grant. Our team are experienced and familiar with the application process, claim submissions and with third party consent we can liaise with Access to Work on behalf of our clients.
Comments