Access To Work - how £66k of funding could be yours
No this isn’t a scam email. Yes there is £66k of funding PER PERSON if you are neurodivergent or have a physical disability.
I am going to start by apologising as this is for the UK only.
If you don’t know what Access To Work is, it can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.
You can secure funding through Access To Work via the UK Government, if you have ADHD, are autistic, dyslexic, dyspraxic or have another condition or disability.
What is it?
It is a UK government programme that grants up to £66,000 per annum to support people with a physical or mental health condition or disability to take up or stay at work.
If you have ADHD are autistic or have another neurodivergent condition, you could qualify for the grant. You don’t need an official diagnosis (accept for dyslexia) which is great as waiting lists are so long currently. There are so many reasons why adults are struggling to get an assessment for ADHD or autism including cost, waiting lists, Right To Choose and more - I will rant about this in another Substack!
What you can get support with
The following are accommodations that I know people with ADHD have successfully secured:
- ADHD Coaching (I accept Access To Work funding from my ADHD clients) - anything from 6 to 26 weeks (although I keep hearing various amounts of sessions people are getting)
- Noise cancelling headphones
- A support worker
- Text reader
- Job aide
- Mind Mapping software
- Standing desks
- Transport costs
- And more…
To access these services and more, you'll need to apply for Access to Work. The process typically involves an assessment of your needs and a discussion with an Access to Work advisor to determine what support is most suitable for you.
The level of support provided will depend on your individual circumstances and the impact of ADHD/autism on your ability to work effectively.
Please remember that even though on the quote you'll be given a list of ADHD coaches you don't need to go with one of them. You can find your own.
The same with the equipment - it doesn't have to be that exact make and model for headphones etc. I think this is really important to share as when I applied for Access To Work, I was so overwhelmed with which coach or equipment to choose…I panicked. Did nothing. And my funding expired.
But good news, you can apply again. And I have. I applied at the beginning of January and I am still waiting for my phone call from them to discuss my application. When I rang them two weeks ago, they had got up to December 2023 applications.
I do have to let you know that it isn’t the most neurodivergent friendly process. However, the application doesn’t actually take too long to fill out as there is a word/character limit for each section. So this makes it easier to think about what you really need to include.
Think about the challenges you face and how it affects you at work.
It can take a while for the funding to be granted so it’s worth bearing that in mind.
Worth knowing…
You or your employer may need to pay some costs up front and claim them back later. You can also apply for Access To Work if you are self-employed.
Do check if you are eligible by visiting here. You do not need an official diagnosis (except for dyslexia) but some people we know have been refused without a diagnosis. It is definitely worth applying though, just in case.
How to apply:
You can apply for Access To Work by visiting the DWP website here. Once you have secured your funding (which can take up to 6 months), get in touch to have an introductory call about ADHD coaching. If I am not your cup of tea - I have other amazing coaches I am aligned with!
Find out more about me here.
And good luck - you won’t regret it!