What is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a UK government scheme that provides grants to help pay for practical support if you have a disability, health condition, or are neurodivergent.

While many people think it's only for employees, self-employed people and business owners can also apply. The scheme recognises that if you need support to run your business effectively—like executive function support, admin help, or organisational systems—this is a legitimate business need.

What can Access to Work cover?

Access to Work can fund support that helps you do your work, including:

• Administrative support (email management, scheduling, diary coordination)

• Organisational support (systems setup, file management, workflow creation)

• Project coordination (keeping projects on track, managing timelines and deliverables)

• Communication support (meeting preparation, note-taking, follow-ups)

• Technical support (website updates, digital organisation, tech troubleshooting)

Essentially, if a VA service helps you manage your workload and run your business despite the challenges your disability or neurodivergence creates, it's likely to qualify.

The grant could cover up to 100% of approved costs (up to £69,000 per year)**, depending on your circumstances.

Who can apply?

You may be eligible if you:

• Are self-employed or run your own business in the UK

• Have a disability, long-term health condition, or are neurodivergent (including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, chronic illness, mental health conditions, and more)

• Need practical support to do your work effectively

• Are aged 16 or over

You don't need a formal diagnosis to apply, though it can help. What matters is demonstrating how your condition affects your ability to work and how the support would help.

How does it work with VA support?

Here's the typical process:

1. You apply for Access to Work through the government portal or by phone

2. Assessment - Access to Work will discuss your needs with you (sometimes via phone, sometimes a workplace assessment)

3. Approval - If approved, they'll outline what support is covered and the funding amount

4. You arrange support - You can choose your own VA.

5. Payment - Depending on your grant, Access to Work either pays the VA directly or reimburses you.

How to apply

You can apply for Access to Work online or by phone:

Online: Apply via GOV.UK
Phone: 0800 121 7479
Textphone: 0800 121 7579

*While Access to Work can fund support like a VA, it's important to be straight about the reality of the current system. Official reports and independent research show that processing times and backlogs have worsened significantly in recent years: the average time to process applications has more than doubled compared with a few years ago, with many disabled workers now waiting several months, often well beyond the official targets, just to get a decision or payment approved. Large numbers of applications are stuck in long backlogs, complaints about delays have tripled, and some groups report that only a minority have a positive experience with the scheme. These systemic delays and inconsistencies mean that Access to Work funding isn’t always a timely or reliable way to access support.

** Recent reports seem to suggest that full coverage is becoming rarer.