Access to Work funding

Sometimes, having a disability or a health condition can make it difficult to work. The Access to Work funding scheme is available for people who need support to work.

The kind of help available includes:

• a support worker, helper or job coach
• somebody to help you communicate, such as an interpreter
• special equipment to help you in your role
• changes to your workplace to make it more accessible. This can include your own home if you work from home
• help towards the costs of taxi fares if you cannot use public transport to get to work

Access to Work funding does not affect benefits.

To apply for Access to Work funding, you must:

• be aged 16 or older
• have a paid job (or be about to start one) - this includes apprenticeships and internships
• have a mental or physical health condition, or a disability, that makes your job more difficult. This can include temporary difficulties such as a broken leg.

To apply, you can:

• ask at your local Job Centre for support with applications
• find out more about Access to Work from GOV.UK
• find further information on the Disability Rights UK website
• speak to an adviser by phoning: 0800 121 7479 (Textphone: 0800 121 7579)

You can apply on behalf of somebody else, for example if an adult you care for needs help with the process. The Department for Work and Pensions will need to get the other person’s consent for this.

If you are an employer, you can get more information from GOV.UK with the Access to work guide for employers.

Information about the application process for supported internships from the British Association for Supported Employment.