Access To Work Help

Hi having recently completed my PIP claim for ADHD I'm keen to explore Access To Work and the possible support it can provide in the work environment. Does anyone have any useful guides or info, as well as personal experiences of how the application process was and what support they got? Any and all stories will be welcome, regardless of condition involved! Thanks!

Hi Ryan
I work for the nhs, I was diagnosed with OA seven years ago, I was advised to contact Access to Work

Thinking I would need a new chair and keyboard and other things I phoned them up and explained everything

They told me at the very least work should be providing this equipment for me, luckily they did, so I’m not really sure what criteria they use, good luck

Hi Ryano,

I've applied for, and been granted Access to Work support several times, most recently two years ago.

You don't need to be getting PIP / UC / any other benefit to potentially qualify for AtW support. You also don't need a diagnostic label, though this definitely helps.

This is a good basic guide to AtW: www.disabilityrightsuk.org/access-work

One thing to keep in mind is, it's completely distinct from statutory benefits. The assessors aren't looking to see how they can prevent you getting the support, and in my experience have been very good at suggesting support that might be useful. They can be less inclined to fund support workers than they are to fund equipment, but if there's a clear case for a support worker they will still be funded.

For example, I have a mobility impairment along with Autism. I work mostly from home, but occasionally run workshops teaching linocut printmaking, and attend art / craft fairs to sell my work. As I walk with crutches and am medically unfit to drive, I can't carry all my stuff to workshops & fairs. AtW cover a support worker to help me lug my stuff around, and set up / take down my stall / table, and cover a taxi to and from the fair / workshop location.

I'm self-employed so AtW covered 100% of the cost. Back when I worked in an office, my employer was expected to cover a proportion of the cost (as employers should be making reasonable adjustments to meet employee's access needs) but AtW would cover the rest. The larger the employer, the more they are expected to pay towards access costs. (If, for example, you work for Price Waterhouse Coopers, they will get less than if you work for an employer with one employee!)

I've known someone with ADHD have a support worker funded to regularly help with organisation and breaking tasks down into manageable processes. IIRC that was one day each month.

It's worth emailing Access to Work to ask about getting an application started.

This is the Government's page on AtW, with the up to date information: www.gov.uk/government/publications/acces...tsheet-for-customers