Guides › Public Services › Access to Work: Help at Work if You Have a Disability or Health Condition
Access to Work: Help at Work If You Have A Disability or Health Condition
Access to Work is a grant for people in England, Scotland and Wales whose physical or mental health condition or disability affects their paid work. It can pay for specialist equipment, a support worker, travel if you cannot use public transport, adaptations, and mental health support. You do not need a diagnosis, your earnings and savings do not matter, and you do not pay it back. It does not cover reasonable adjustments your employer must make.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Access to Work
Who Can Get It
People with a physical or mental health condition or disability that affects their paid work, in England, Scotland or Wales. You do not need a diagnosis. Voluntary work does not count. Civil servants get support through their employer instead. source
What It Pays For
Specialist equipment and software, support workers such as a BSL interpreter or job coach, travel if you cannot use public transport, vehicle or workplace adaptations, mental health support, and communication support at interviews. It does not cover reasonable adjustments your employer must legally make. source
Money
Your earnings and savings do not affect it. It does not reduce most other benefits and you do not pay it back. You or your employer may pay some costs upfront and claim them back. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- Before you startApply earlySupport can take time to arrange
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
List how your condition affects your work.
Step 2 of 5
Apply online or by phone.
Step 3 of 5
Have your workplace contact details ready.
Step 4 of 5
Talk to your employer about reasonable adjustments too.
Step 5 of 5
Keep receipts for anything you claim back.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Access to Work
Apply online or by phone.
Citizens Advice
Free, independent help with benefits, including challenges and appeals.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Access to Work is separate from your employer's legal duty to make reasonable adjustments, so ask for both.
Rules here are for England and Wales. Scotland has its own disability and carer benefits from Social Security Scotland, and Northern Ireland benefits are run through nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- hmrc.gov.uk/access-to-work/print Checked 16 October 2026