Access to Work

Sometimes, access requirements may have an attached cost - and it is an employer’s legal responsibility to pay for and implement adjustments that are considered reasonable.

But a Government scheme called Access to Work can support you in covering some or all of these costs above and beyond what is ‘reasonable’, helping to alleviate the financial burden on businesses.

For those who manage to get through the often arduous process, the scheme can be life-changing - and the difference between a Disabled person being able to work or not. Yet so few people know about it - in fact, 84% of creative businesses believe that if they were to hire someone with workplace adjustments, they would be expected to pay for them entirely themselves (The Industry Access Survey, 2022)

What is it?

Access to Work is a grant of up to £69,260 per person which covers the costs incurred providing accessibility and adjustments to a disabled worker, to help remove the barriers they face in undertaking paid employment and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their full potential at work.

As an employer, you may have to share the cost for new equipment, special aids, and adaptations to premises or equipment, but this contribution is dependent on:

employment status of the individual (e.g. are they self employed?)

How long they have been working for you when they apply

The size of your business

The number of employees you have

What does it do?

As an employer, it can help you:

Hire disabled talent with the skills you are looking for

Retain an employee who develops a disability or health condition

Show that you value and will support your employee by having good employment policies and practices

Increase diversity in your organisation

It can provide grants to help pay for things like:

Special equipment (e.g. a height-adjusted desk, an adapted keyboard, or noise cancelling headphones)

Software (e.g. screen-readers)

Additional travel costs (e.g. taxis for when public transport is not accessible)

Work premises adaptations (which can include someone’s home, if that is where they work)

A support worker, personal assistant, or coach

Often, neurodivergent individuals do not know what they need in terms of access support. Access to Work can also carry out workplace assessments to help them figure it out.

Aiding the Process

Tell your employees about Access to Work - not all employees realise they can get it, or be aware of workplace adjustments in general, particularly if they do not consider themselves as ‘disabled’.

Before your employee makes an application, discuss with them what reasonable adjustments you can make to the workplace

Make your employee feel supported in discussing their access requirements, and offer them help in completing the form if they need it - it can be incredibly stressful (note: it is helpful to have a member of staff who is familiar with the process to be able to offer guidance)

Support the communication between your employee and their advisor, who may need additional context about the job role or might well be unfamiliar with your employee’s specific condition or access requirements

The advisor may need to speak to you about what support your employee needs - help with this process

Have back up plans and contingencies in your budget, conscious of how long the application process can take

If your employee’s job role has changed, so too may their access requirements. Encourage them to ask for their award to be reviewed, which can take place as many times as their situation changes

Support your employees mental health and signpost resources during this process, which can be emotionally exhausting

Ensure you cooperate with the adjustments recommended by Access to Work to ensure your employees can work effectively

Please note: the waiting periods for Access to Work can be incredibly long, but someone’s access requirements are ongoing. You may need to pay some costs upfront, and claim them back later.

While Access to Work is an envied resource around the world, and is a widely valued by its users (Adams et al, 2018), it most certainly has its shortcomings - by the Government’s own admission (The Buckland Report, 2024). It is under-resourced, difficult to access (ironically), and many are experiencing unprecedented waiting times. Be conscious of this and support especially your freelancers, who are often going through these processes alone - it can be incredibly isolating.

*note on: (In)Access(ible) to Work

Access to Work

What is it?

What does it do?

Eligibility

Aiding the Process

*note on: (In)Access(ible) to Work

Additional Resources: