Access to Work: the grant, the cap and the waiting list

What the grant is and what it is not

Access to Work is a demand-led grant scheme operating in Great Britain to help people get or stay in work if they have a physical or mental health condition or disability. It does not provide the support itself; it provides a grant to reimburse the agreed cost of the support needed. The scheme is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland runs its own version, Access to Work (NI).

It is not a benefit, it is not means-tested, and you do not need to receive disability benefits to apply. Someone claiming Employment and Support Allowance and doing permitted work can get help from Access to Work. Someone claiming Universal Credit who has a disability or health condition can apply for Access to Work for any paid work they do. The grant sits alongside, not instead of, an employer's duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. That duty is a legal obligation the employer pays for, and it is separate from and additional to Access to Work funding.

Who can apply

You must be aged 16 or over and live in England, Scotland or Wales. You need a physical or mental health condition or disability that affects your work. A formal diagnosis is not needed to apply, but it helps to be able to explain your access needs. Access to Work applies to any paid job of any length, including part-time work, temporary work and work trials organised by Jobcentre Plus. Self-employed people can apply, and the self-employed pathway differs in practice from the employed pathway. Company directors can apply for Access to Work support.

You can apply with a written job offer before starting, but Access to Work can only assess someone after they have a written job offer. If you are already in work, you can apply at any point. The scheme is open to people in paid work of any length, and there is no requirement to be receiving disability benefits. If you are unsure whether you qualify, the practical test is whether your condition or disability creates a barrier to doing your job, and whether practical support would remove or reduce that barrier.

What it pays for, and what it does not

Access to Work can fund a flexible package of support covering both home and office working. This includes specialist equipment, support workers, communication support at interview, travel to work where public transport is not usable, and mental health support. Where taxis are needed, Access to Work will usually estimate the cost and decide whether the use of taxis is reasonable. The grant reimburses the agreed cost of the support needed, so you or your employer may need to pay upfront and claim back, depending on the arrangement.

It is important to be clear about the limits. Access to Work funds workplace support rather than healthcare. It will not pay for diagnosis, medication or treatment. It will not fund adjustments the employer should be making anyway under the Equality Act 2010. The scheme is designed to remove barriers to work, not to provide medical care or to replace an employer's legal obligations. If a piece of equipment or support is something the employer would reasonably be expected to provide as a reasonable adjustment, Access to Work is unlikely to fund it.

The cap, the cost share and the numbers

The maximum grant is 69,260 pounds per person per year for grants awarded or reviewed between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2027. The cap was also 69,260 pounds for 8 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, and has not increased from 2024/25 to 2026/27. The amount of the cap depends on when the grant was awarded or reviewed, so older grants sit under the cap that applied at that time. DWP typically approves support for individuals for three years, and reviews circumstances after three years or if the condition changes.

Most awards are far below the cap. Support is usually approved for three years before review. The employer cost share does not apply for people who have been working for the employer for less than six weeks when they first apply. Where it does apply, the share depends on the size of the employer. The Lower Earnings Limit is 6,708 pounds for 2026/27, which is 559 pounds per month, and this can be relevant when calculating salary costs for support workers.

The waiting times, honestly

The National Audit Office found that average processing time reached 109 days in November 2025. As of March 2026 around 66,000 applications were awaiting a decision. The Public Accounts Committee reported in June 2026 that people were waiting too long for applications to be processed and that the delays were creating hardship and uncertainty for individuals and employers. In May 2026 DWP announced a plan of action to clear the backlog of applications by September 2027. DWP more than doubled the number of staff working on the scheme, from an average of 247 full-time equivalents in 2021/22 to 588 in 2024/25, and from 500 in March 2024 to 657 in March 2026, with further recruitment announced.

The practical consequence is that you should apply the moment the need is identified. A grant can be backdated to the day the online application was made, so applying early protects your position. An employer can buy specialist equipment once an application has been made and while the assessment is pending, but Access to Work may not backdate those payments. Access to Work payments to an employer usually take 10 working days. If you are waiting, keep records of when you applied and any costs incurred, because the application date is the anchor for backdating.

How to apply and how to make the application stronger

Applications can be made online at GOV.UK or by phone on 0800 121 7479, with a textphone line on 0800 121 7579, and Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 121 7479. Phone lines are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. After applying, DWP may ask for more detail about the work and the condition, ask permission to speak to the employer, or arrange a workplace assessment by video call or in person. The assessment is your opportunity to explain what you need and why.

The part that changes outcomes is precision. Describe the specific task that is difficult and the specific support that would fix it, rather than describing the condition in general terms. An assessor can only fund something described precisely. For example, instead of saying that you have a condition that affects communication, explain that you need a British Sign Language interpreter for weekly team meetings, or that you need speech-to-text software for a particular software package. If you are self-employed, the self-employed pathway differs in practice from the employed pathway, so be ready to explain how the support relates to your paid work. If you have a written job offer, you can apply before starting, but the assessment can only take place after the offer is in writing.

If the decision is wrong

If the decision is wrong, ask for a reconsideration. Reconsideration decisions have been taking around five weeks. The National Audit Office recorded DWP applying its guidance more rigorously, with some people seeing funding reduced without any change in their circumstances. The government has said it has not made any changes to Access to Work. If your funding is reduced at review, it is worth querying rather than accepting, especially if your circumstances have not changed.

When you ask for a reconsideration, refer back to the specific tasks and support you described in your application. If the decision letter does not explain why the support was refused or reduced, ask for the reasons. Keep copies of everything you send and receive. If your employer is involved, they may be able to provide evidence about the workplace barriers and the adjustments already made. The reconsideration process is separate from the employer's duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, so a refusal of Access to Work funding does not remove that duty.

Source: GOV.UK: Access to Work.

Related coverage on Kael Tripton: Council Tax Reduction for Mental Health and Disability 2026: SMI Exemption, Discounts and How to Claim, Council Tax Disability Help 2026: DBRS, SMI, Carer Discount Guide, MPs Call for Universal Credit Boost as State Pension Age Rises to 67, Universal Credit Managed Migration Explained, UK Probation Period: Your Employment Rights.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Access to Work cap for 2025 to 2027?

The maximum is 69,260 pounds per person per year for grants awarded or reviewed between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2027. The cap was also 69,260 pounds for 8 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, and has not increased from 2024/25 to 2026/27. Older grants sit under the cap that applied when they were awarded or last reviewed.

Do you need a diagnosis to apply for Access to Work?

A formal diagnosis is not needed to apply, but it helps to be able to explain your access needs. You need a physical or mental health condition or disability that affects your work.

Can you apply for Access to Work before starting a job?

You can apply with a written job offer before starting, but Access to Work can only assess someone after they have a written job offer.

How long does an Access to Work decision take?

The National Audit Office found that average processing time reached 109 days in November 2025. As of March 2026 around 66,000 applications were awaiting a decision. Reconsideration decisions have been taking around five weeks.

Can a grant be backdated?

A grant can be backdated to the day the online application was made. An employer can buy specialist equipment once an application has been made and while the assessment is pending, but Access to Work may not backdate those payments.