Free Financial Support for Employee Health Assistance - Access to Work
What is the Access to Work scheme?
Access to Work provides free financial support for employees, to help with mental health or physical health issues.
The Access to Work scheme is provided by the UK government Department of Work and Pensions.
The financial support is provided directly to the employee.
Employees do not need to be formally diagnosed with the condition, but they must be receiving an income.
How can Access to Work help?
The financial support can be used for a wide range of support tools, following assessment by a DWP case worker, such as:
- Support such as counselling or job coaching if you need it.
- Access to a support worker to help you at work.
- Software to help you work.
- Noise cancelling headphones to help you work.
- Help to make changes to the equipment you use to do your job.
- To move your equipment if you change where you work.
- Provide interpreters such as British Sign Language, Video Relay Service support, Lip speakers or note takers.
- Give disability awareness training to people you work with.
Access to Work is different to the employer making reasonable adjustments, as part of their legal obligations under employment law.
What types of health condition does Access to Work help with?
You can apply for Access to Work financial support if you have a
- Physical or hidden disability
- Mental health condition.
Access to work can help with mental health or physical health issues if they make it hard for you to do your job or get to work.
Mental health conditions can include diagnosed or undiagnosed:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Autism
- ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder
- ADD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
What are the requirements to get Access to Work?
For support from Access to Work:
- You must be in a paid job, about to start a job or going back to a job.
- You must be aged 16 years old or over and live in England, Scotland or Wales.
- You cannot get Access to Work if you live in The Channel Islands or The Isle of Man.
- You cannot get a grant for unpaid work.
- Self-employment is fine. Having your own business or finding work yourself rather than working for an employer.
- An apprenticeship is fine. Working for an employer to learn a skill or trade.
- Work Experience or Internship is fine. Work with a company to get experience of a job.
- Work Trial is fine. A way of working in a job to see if it is the right job for the worker and employer.
- Limitations may apply if you receive other benefits.
Find out more
The DWP assessment to access the Access to Work scheme typically takes two to three months.
To apply for the UK Department of Work and Pensions Access to Work scheme, click here.
