The Rough Guide to Access to Work (for ADHD)
If you’ve landed on this blog post chances are you’re curious to know more about a government scheme called Access to Work and how it could help make your work life as an ADHD’er so much easier.
So without further ado and with the use of a lot of bullet points (does anyone else LOVE bullet points or is it just me?), here goes.
What is Access to Work?
Access to Work was launched by the DWP in 1994.
Its aim is to support people with disabilities to start or stay in work whether employed or self employed.
If eligible you may receive funding to help with practical things like an ADHD coach or a support worker/job aide to assist you with the day to day things that you may find overwhelming. Or fund specialist equipment designed to make life easier, such as office furniture, noise cancelling headphones, digital notepads etc.
Every case is measured on your own personal circumstances and the level of funding you may be entitled to can vary from person to person depending on their individual needs.
There is an annual cap on the total amount of support that can be provided under Access to Work; this is currently set at £66,000. (ATW will pay 100% of the costs if you are self employed).
Access to work will not fund items which are regarded as standard equipment, standard business costs or standard health and safety requirements. This means that any item which would normally be needed to do the job, whether a person is disabled or not, will not be paid for.
Eligibility Criteria
have a physical or mental health condition or disability that means you need support to do your job or get to and from work
be 16 or over
be in paid work (or be about to start or return to paid work in the next 12 weeks)
live and work (or be about to start or return to work) in England, Scotland or Wales - there’s a different system in NI.
You can apply if you are already receiving other benefits such as UC or PIP, but not if you are claiming Incapacity Benefit or ESA once you are working.
At present you do not need an official ADHD diagnosis to apply. But this may change in the future, and if you already have an ADHD diagnosis or are on the pathway to getting one (you’ve been to the GP and are on a waiting list so it’s on your medical records) then it may speed up the application process, which can be longgggggg…
You can also apply if you have mental health conditions such as anxiety/depression which affect your ability to work.
My Experience with Access to Work for ADHD
I started my own ATW application in January 2023 after I got ADHD diagnosis, and was initially awarded funding for an ADHD coach who I worked with for 12 sessions, all funded by ATW. I then reapplied in March and got considerably more support, which was finally awarded in October 2023.
(I did mention it’s a slow process didn’t I !!!).
The waiting times presently for applications to be processed are anywhere between 4-6 months. But don’t let that put you off. If you are successful it really is worth the wait.
Now for the tedious bit.
The whole process and system at present really isn’t ADHD friendly…
It involves a lot of form filling, remembering to chase up your application, taking phone calls from your individual case worker who will assess your application etc.
And this is where I may be able to help you.
I’ve been through the process, as a self employed ADHD female.
If you want someone to help you fill in the application form and give you advice 1-1 on what to expect, what type of support you can ask for, and talk you through each step of the process then I would be delighted to assist you.
Sometimes just having another person who totally ‘gets it’ can make stuff like this so much easier.
I’ve created the new LLO Guide to Access to Work which gives you a concise and informative insight into the whole process of applying for support and what the scheme is all about.
