How to claim Access to Work
There are 6 steps to take to apply for Access to Work.
Before following these steps, please read our Access to Work page to find out more about this government benefit.
Step 1: Check if you are eligible for Access to Work help
To get Access to Work you must:
- have a physical or mental health condition or a disability that means you need support to do your job, or to get to and from your job
- be 16 or over
- have 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, Wales or Scotland
You cannot get Access to Work to help you with voluntary work or if you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Step 2: Make sure you have the right information to hand
You will need:
- your name, address and telephone number
- your date of birth
- your
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
Tax is the money that people pay to the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a
pension
A pension is money you get when you are older to pay for the things you need. You can pay money into your pension when you are working so there is more money for when you are older.
when you are older.
number, if you have one (you can find this on letters about tax, pensions and benefits) - your bank or building society account number and sort code
- the address and postcode of the place where you work
- the name and contact details of someone where you work who can confirm you work there
- information about how your disability or health condition affects your work
- information about the support you think you need
Step 3: Get someone to help you if you want
If you want some help to apply for Access to Work you can:
- ask someone you trust to help you
- ask a local
organisation
An organisation are a group of people who work together.
who helps people with their benefits
Step 4: Fill in the Access to Work application form
You can apply for Access to Work online or by contacting the Access to Work helpline.
Online
You can apply online on the government’s website.
By contacting the Access to Work helpline
You can contact the Access to Work helpline:
- Phone: 0800 121 7479.
- Textphone: 0800 121 7579.
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479. Relay UK helps people who cannot hear or speak on the phone.
The Access to Work helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00 - 5.00.
Step 5: Getting your Access to Work decision
After you have applied for Access to Work, someone from Access to Work will contact you about your application.
If you find it difficult to talk on the phone, you can ask Access to Work to contact you by email, or to contact someone else who can talk to them about your application.
The person from Access to Work might ask:
- for more information about your work, your disability or health condition
- for permission to speak to your employer
- to arrange for an assessor to contact you or to see your workplace, so they can find out what changes might help you at work
You will get a letter which will tell you if you will get help from Access to Work. It will tell you how much your Access to Work grant will be and what you can use the money to pay for.
If you are awarded a grant, the letter will also tell you when your grant will end. You can apply to renew it online or by phone 12 weeks before the end of the grant.
Step 6: Claim your Access to Work grant money
You can claim the money from your Access to Work grant online or by post. You will need to provide:
- the dates you had support
- invoices or receipts (copies are accepted) showing the cost of your support
- bank details of the person or company who will receive the money from the grant
You may also need the details of a workplace contact who can confirm you received the support you are claiming for.
To claim online
You will need:
- your bank or building society account number and sort code
- an email address
- a mobile phone
You will also need to prove your identity with documents from 2 different sources.
For example:
- A current UK passport.
- A
payslip
A payslip is a document that shows how much you have been paid and how much money was taken off to pay your taxes.
from the last 3 months or your current P60. - A bank statement, loan, mortgage or credit agreement.
- Your most recent Self
Assessment
An assessment is a way of finding out what help a person needs. When you have an assessment, you might have to go to a meeting or fill in a form.
tax return. - Your most recent tax credit payment, if you claim them.
You will need to create an online account on the government’s website.
If you cannot prove your identity with documents from 2 of the above sources, you will need to claim by post.
To claim by post
Fill in the claim form that was with your Access to Work grant decision letter. If you cannot find the claim form, you can contact the Access to Work helpline and ask them to post one to you.
Access to Work helpline
Contact the Access to Work helpline if:
- you need help with your claim
- you do not have all of the information you need to make a claim
- you need help to set up your online account
- your grant has run out and you need more money to pay for something your Access to Work grant letter says you need
You can contact the Access to Work helpline by:
- Phone: 0800 121 7479.
- Textphone: 0800 121 7579.
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479. Relay UK helps people who cannot hear or speak on the phone.
The Access to Work helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00 - 5.00.
What to do if your Access to Work application is unsuccessful
If your application for Access to Work is unsuccessful or you are unhappy with the outcome, you should contact the Access to Work helpline.
- Phone: 0800 121 7479.
- Textphone: 0800 121 7579.
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479. Relay UK helps people who can not hear or speak on the phone.
The Access to Work helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00 - 5.00.
Frequently asked questions about Access to Work applications
How do I apply for Access to Work?
You can apply for Access to Work online on the government’s website, or by contacting the Access to Work helpline.
- Phone: 0800 121 7479.
- Textphone: 0800 121 7579.
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479. Relay UK helps people who cannot hear or speak on the phone.
The Access to Work helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00 - 5.00.
What information do I need to provide to claim Access to Work?
You will need:
- your name, address and telephone number
- your date of birth
- your National Insurance number, if you have one (you can find this on letters about tax, pensions and benefits)
- your bank or building society account number and sort code
- the address and postcode of the place where you work
- the name and contact details of someone where you work who can confirm you work there
- information about how your disability or health condition affects your work
- information about the support you think you need
I don’t have enough money in my Access to Work grant to pay for the support I need. What should I do?
If you need more money to pay for support that your Access to Work grant letter says you need, contact the Access to Work helpline:
- Phone: 0800 121 7479.
- Textphone: 0800 121 7579.
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479. Relay UK helps people who cannot hear or speak on the phone.
The Access to Work helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00 - 5.00.
I need help at work with things which are not mentioned in my Access to Work decision letter. What should I do?
Access to Work will not pay for reasonable adjustments. These are the changes your employer must legally make to support you to do your job.
Access to Work will advise your employer if changes should be made as reasonable adjustments.
If you need help with things which aren’t counted as reasonable adjustments, contact the Access to Work helpline to discuss your
application form
An application form is a form you have to fill in to try to get something.
and decision letter:
- Phone: 0800 121 7479.
- Textphone: 0800 121 7579.
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479. Relay UK helps people who cannot hear or speak on the phone.
The Access to Work helpline is open Monday to Friday 9.00 - 5.00.
The information on this page is for
guidance
Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well.
only. Mencap hold no responsibility for DWP processes, timescales, decisions, and service.