Access to Work is a government-funded grant scheme to help people with disabilities - and those with a physical or mental health condition - to start or stay in work. The grant can help pay for specialist software - such as our very own Read&Write for Work software, adapted equipment, a support worker or travel expenses to and from work depending on the needs of the employee.
The level of funding depends on how long the employee has been in their job and the type of support required. Access to Work will normally pay 100% of the cost if the employee has been in the role for 6 weeks or less.
Access to Work can help pay for support you may need because of a disability or long term health condition, for example:
If you have dyslexia, examples of the support offered may include:
You can apply for Access to Work if you:
You must also:
About your condition
To receive support from Access to Work, your disability or health condition must affect your ability to do a job. The grant can help pay for specialist software - such as Read&Write for Work software, adapted equipment, a support worker or travel expenses to and from work depending on your individual needs.
You might not get Access to Work if you get any of these benefits:
However, you may get it for a limited time if you are doing certain types of ‘permitted work’ to help you move off benefits completely.
The grant will only cover the support needed to let you stay in work. It can pay for things like:
If you change employers, you may be able to transfer equipment to your new employer. You cannot automatically transfer awards for support workers or travel. You would need to contact the Access to Work team to discuss your new arrangements.
The quickest and easiest way to apply is online at www.gov.uk/access-to-work
You can also apply by calling Jobcentre Plus on:
If you need an alternative way of contacting Access to Work to discuss your needs, you can write to:
Access to Work
Operational Support Unit
Harrow Jobcentre Plus
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1JE
When you contact the Access to Work team, you may need:
Many employers are asking employees to adapt their working arrangements and environments. To support disabled people to access these new working arrangements and enable them to retain, return to and move into employment, Access to Work is introducing a new flexible package of support.
The new flexible BSO offer brings together a package of home working support which can be blended with workplace support and new COVID-19 support to support disabled people.
Additionally, to support disabled people who have been shielding all Access to Work applications from people in the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) group will be prioritised.
Customers can check their eligibility online using the Access to Work gov.uk information page.
The Blended Support Offer is made up of 3 strands
More information on BSO will be available soon.
Read&Write for Work, is inclusive software from Texthelp, that gives all staff the individualised support they need.
It’s a handy toolbar that integrates seamlessly with all the applications staff already use and can be customised to suit individual needs and preferences.
It helps individuals with neurodiverse conditions that are often invisible, like dyslexia, autism, Asperger’s, dyspraxia, and ADHD, to become more productive in the workplace.
Hear online text read aloud
great for proofreading and to give tired eyes a break
Advanced spellchecker and word prediction
create polished, error-free documents quickly and easily
Unlock PDFs for easy editing
and have them read aloud or converted into MP3
Convert documents into MP3 files
for easy offline listening anywhere, anytime, any device
Use screen masking to help you concentrate
softens screen glare and reduce visual stress
Scan paper documents to digital
to be easily edited or read aloud
Here are some resources to help you promote the scheme to your new employees and to your existing workforce. Add it to your induction programme or share it across your community channels. You’ll also find a handy guide to our inclusive software, Read&Write for Work, that’s already supporting thousands of people with disabilities in the workplace.
We all understand the importance of successfully inducting new recruits to the business. Aside from meeting the legal obligations around workplace safety, a successful induction reduces stress and anxiety associated with starting a new job and helps the employee integrate faster into their role.
Of course, no recruit is the same so it’s critical that your induction programme is inclusive so that all your recruits feel supported from the moment they walk into your business.
One of the ways to make your induction programme inclusive is to talk to the new recruit about additional support they may need to help them in their role. The sooner the support is provided the sooner the workplace barriers/obstacles are removed and the employee can focus on the job.