Wreck It Rav

UK guide

Access to Work: get help at work for your ADHD.

A government grant that pays for practical support at work. You don’t need a diagnosis to apply. Here’s how, step by step.

Apply on GOV.UK

It doesn’t affect your other benefits, and you don’t pay it back.

Written by Rav, business psychologist and behavioural scientist. Checked 26 October 2026.

Is it for you?

You can apply if

  • You’re 16 or over
  • You live and work in England, Scotland or Wales
  • You’re in paid work, or starting or going back to work in the next 12 weeks
  • You’re employed, an apprentice, an intern, on a work trial, or self-employed with a turnover of at least £6,500 a year
  • Your condition means you need support to do your job. ADHD is one of the examples GOV.UK gives
  • You don’t need a diagnosis

Good to know

  • Working from home? You can still apply
  • Part-time counts as well as full-time
  • Voluntary work doesn’t count
  • Civil servants get support from their employer instead
  • In Northern Ireland there’s a separate scheme, on nidirect

What it can pay for

It won’t pay for reasonable adjustments. Those are changes your employer must make by law. This is extra support on top.

  • Software and equipment

    Specialist equipment and assistive software.

  • A support worker

    Someone to support you at work, such as a job coach.

  • Mental health support

    A tailored plan and one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional. You can only get this once.

  • Travel and workplace changes

    Travel to work if you can’t use public transport, and physical changes to where you work, including at home.

Before you start, have these ready

Tick them off as you go. The notes on the right take the most thought, so start there.

Your checklist

Notes on how ADHD affects your work

Short bullet points are fine. You don’t need perfect sentences.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Apply online or by phone

    Online on GOV.UK, or call 0800 121 7479, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If calls are hard, you can ask for everything by email.

  2. They get in touch

    Someone from Access to Work talks to you about your application, and may ask for more information or for permission to speak to your employer.

  3. An assessment

    An assessor may call you or look at your workplace, by video or in person, to see what would help.

  4. Your decision letter

    It tells you how much the grant is and what it should pay for.

  5. Get the support, then claim

    You or your employer may need to pay first, then claim it back online or by post, with invoices or receipts.

It can take months. The National Audit Office found the average wait was 109 working days in November 2025, so apply as early as you can.

Could coaching be part of your support?

If coaching would help you at work, say so when you apply. Want to talk it through first? Book a free 30-minute call with me.

Book a free call

Quick answers

Do I need a diagnosis?

No. GOV.UK says you don’t need to be diagnosed to apply. If you’d like one anyway, here’s my guide to getting assessed.

Will they tell my employer?

Your workplace contact won’t be contacted without your permission. They may ask for it, to understand your job and what would help.

Does it affect my benefits?

It doesn’t affect your other benefits, and you don’t have to pay it back.

I’m self-employed. Can I apply?

Yes, if your business turns over at least £6,500 a year. You’ll need your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) when you apply.

Is there a limit?

Yes. It’s £69,260 a year for grants awarded or reviewed between April 2026 and March 2027, the same as since 2024. Support is usually approved for three years.

What if I disagree with the decision?

Call the Access to Work helpline on 0800 121 7479 and ask them to reconsider.

Isn’t this my employer’s job?

Partly. Your employer must make reasonable adjustments by law, and pay for them. Access to Work doesn’t replace that. It adds support on top.

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Where this comes from

Checked 26 October 2026. Rules can change, so check GOV.UK before you apply. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.