Access to Work for ADHD: Your Essential Guide to Support and Resources

• OVERVIEW
• SYMPTOMS
• ADULTS
• CHILDREN
• WOMEN
• DIAGNOSIS
• TREATMENT
• MEDICATION

Did you know that only 1 in 100 eligible people use the Access to Work scheme ADHD support grant? This ADHD grant offers up to £69,260 yearly, yet most people don’t know about it.

If you’re wondering about ADHD benefits for adults in the UK, this could be a game-changer. The grant helps pay for:

• Workplace coaching
• Specialised equipment
• Travel costs
• Practical support at work

Once approved, your ADHD workplace support will run for three years, after which a quick check will be performed. You won’t lose any other benefits, and there’s nothing to pay back.

Got a job? Self-employed? Starting your own business? The Access to Work grant for ADHD works for all these situations. Let’s look at how to get this ADHD funding sorted for you. Here at AuDHD Psychiatry, we are committed to helping you get the best possible work life through evidence-based ADHD assessment and coaching.

Key Takeaways

• Access to Work can fund ADHD-related support, including coaching, assistive technology, specialist software, workplace adjustments, and travel if public transport is difficult.
• Annual funding is capped (currently uprated each year) and can cover a broad mix of services, tools, and practical support to help you stay in work.
• You don’t need a formal ADHD diagnosis to apply; what matters most is how your difficulties affect your work and what support you need.
• Support is available across many paid roles, including full-time, part-time, temporary, casual, and self-employment, and usually lasts up to three years before review.

What Is Access to Work for ADHD? 

“Access to Work helps people with disabilities or health conditions to start/stay in work. Through the scheme, you can access funding for specialised equipment, a support service, disability awareness training, ADHD coaching, travel costs, and more!” — Leanne Maskell, ADHD coach and Access to Work expert

Access to Work (AtW) helps people with ADHD by providing significant workplace support so they can thrive at work. The Department for Work and Pensions runs this programme to address workplace challenges through practical support and financial assistance.

But first, you might be wondering, ‘Is ADHD a disability?’ In the context of workplace support, ADHD can be considered a disability if it significantly impacts your ability to work. Additionally, ADHD is recognised as a mental health disability under the Equality Act of 2010.

For individuals with ADHD, this program can be transformative, providing crucial workplace support to manage their unique challenges. The programme aims to help people enter or remain in employment by funding adjustments and support.

Support is customised to each individual’s needs, enabling effective role performance despite ADHD challenges.

What Support Can the Access to Work Grant Cover?

“Thanks to Access to Work, I no longer feel like this is the end of my working contribution. In fact, I am more of an asset to the workforce than I was before” — Sam Williams, Engineer and ADHD coach

Access to Work grants for ADHD are available to provide practical assistance with your job. This can take the form of equipment modifications to facilitate your work or reimbursement of travel costs. An interpreter is also available during job interviews if communication is difficult. You may also receive practical assistance at work, such as job coaching and training on note-taking or lip-reading.

Want to learn more? Check these out:

ADHD Coaching

ADHD coaching sits right at the heart of things. Your coach helps sort:

• Time management tricks
• Getting organised (and staying that way)
• Work goals you can actually reach
• Better ways to chat with colleagues
• Feeling more confident at work

With the Access to Work scheme, you get to pick your coach. So if you want someone who specialises in ADHD or prefer a general workplace coach, it’s absolutely your choice.

Workplace Equipment and Support

Ready to make your workspace more ADHD-friendly? Based on what worked for others, you might get practical office equipment support like:

• Comfortable furniture that helps you focus
• Standing desk (or a bouncy ball if that’s more your style)
• Extra screens for juggling tasks
• Job interview support
• A proper big desk for spreading out
• A chair that doesn’t make you fidget

Got the wiggles? They can equip your workspace with an under-desk treadmill or exercise bike. If you’re working from home, they also help pay for a spot in a coworking space. These are all examples of reasonable accommodations that can make a big difference.

Software and tools available

The digital stuff’s pretty nifty, too. Think:

• Mind mapping tools for when your brain’s going full speed
• Task managers like Monday.com or Asana
• Digital notebooks that won’t get lost
• Apps that prevent you from falling down internet rabbit holes
• Dragon Professional for talking instead of typing

You can also get all sorts of calendar tricks to keep you on track across your devices. This assistive technology can be a game-changer for organisational skills and productivity.

The bottom line? Everything is matched to what you actually need. No one-size-fits-all package. Just proper support that helps you crack on with your job.

Maximum funding available

As of this writing, Access to Work can award up to £69,260 per year (for grants from 8 April 2024 onwards), and this cap is reviewed annually.

Your support runs for three years before a quick check is performed. If you’re not happy with what you’re offered, you can file an appeal. If you do, it would help to provide additional evidence.

If you’re employed and have been in your job for more than six weeks, your employer may be asked to share some of the costs. In many cases, Access to Work pays up to 80% of approved costs, with your employer covering the rest, plus any initial “threshold” amount that applies.

The brilliant thing about Access to Work is that it fits around you. Whether you’re full-time, part-time, or somewhere in between, it helps ensure you get the right support for managing ADHD symptoms at work.

Eligibility Criteria for ADHD Workplace Support

ADHD Access to Work applicants must meet several criteria to qualify for support under the UK government programme. These requirements ensure that individuals receive the assistance they need.

Basic Eligibility Rules

You can apply if you:

• Are 16 years or older
• Have a physical or mental health condition that affects your work
• Need help with work tasks or getting to work
• Work at least one hour every week

Remember: Your bank balance doesn’t matter for this grant. Plus, you can keep getting other benefits as long as you’re doing those minimum hours. 

Employment Status Requirements

Another brilliant thing about Access to Work is that it works for loads of different paid job setups:

• Regular employment (full-time or part-time)
• Working for yourself (self-employment)
• Apprenticeships
• Work trials and experience
• Internships
• Work placements

You can apply if you’re already in paid work, or if you’re about to start a new role. If you have a job offer, you can usually apply up to 12 weeks before your start date, so support is more likely to be in place when you begin.

If you run your own business, keep your paperwork handy. Self-employed applicants are often asked to provide recent accounts, a tax return, a business plan, or other proof of trading as part of the assessment.

Location Restrictions

Access to Work offers ADHD workplace adjustments and support if you live and work in England, Scotland, or Wales.

In Northern Ireland, a separate scheme, Access to Work (NI), provides similar support. Access to Work is not available to people living in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, where different local arrangements may apply.

Work from home? No problem. Access to Work can fund support for your work setup, whether you’re working remotely full-time or splitting your week between home and the office.

Remember: The programme fits around your working pattern. That’s what makes it so handy for managing ADHD’s impact on work.

How to Apply for Access to Work With ADHD

Applying for Access to Work involves several steps. First, check your eligibility. Provide details on how your condition affects your work and the specific support you need. For self-employed individuals, including the Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number is essential.

The application must include personal and contact details, job title, employer information, and employment status. It’s also important to provide contact details for a workplace contact who can validate your employment.

Applications can be submitted online or via phone, making the process accessible to everyone. Ensuring all required information is included and accurate will help streamline the application process and increase the chances of receiving support.

Getting Your Application Ready

Let’s get your paperwork sorted. Having everything ready before you start makes things much smoother. Here’s what you need:

From Application to Assessment

Ready to tackle the form? It might look tricky, but we’ll sort it together step by step:

Fill Out Your Application Form

Pop over to the Access to Work webpage and hit ‘Start now.’ The form wants to know:

• Your details and how to reach you
• Where and how you work
• How ADHD affects your job
• What sort of help you need

If you’re running your own show, keep that UTR number handy. Once you’ve sent everything off, someone will ring you within seven working days to talk things through.

Telling your ADHD story

Here’s the clever bit – explaining how ADHD shows up at work. Think about:

• Those tricky moments when tasks pile up
• When deadlines slip through your memory
• How noisy offices mess with your focus
• Times when everything feels too much
• Money matters at work

If you already have some hacks that help you with your work, you can add those, too. This will help Access to Work staff see what’s working for you.

The Assessment Process

After you send off your form, you’ll undergo an assessment to help the AtW staff work out exactly what support you need. Here’s the whole story.

A case manager rings you within seven days. The chat happens in one of three ways:

• Over the phone
• Video call
• Face-to-face at your workplace

Can’t do phone or video? No worries – other options exist, including British Sign Language help. The whole thing feels quite relaxed. They’re more interested in finding solutions than picking apart your diagnosis.

The assessor (usually someone hired by the government) looks at:

• What you do day-to-day
• Your ADHD-related challenges
• How your workplace works now
• Ways to make things better

Questions They Might Ask

The Access to Work assessment is more like a friendly chat than an exam. They’ll want to know about:

• Your typical day at work
• Parts of the job you find tricky
• Clever ways you’ve found to cope
• How ADHD shows up in your work
• Any help you already get

Sometimes they may ask to chat with your boss or get a peek at your workplace. This makes sense because it helps them understand where you’re working.

The whole thing takes about an hour. After that, they write up a proper report with suggestions, like:

• ADHD coaching
• Mental health support
• Someone to help with admin
• Useful tech and gadgets
• Changes to your workspace

Once everything is sorted, you and your boss receive a letter about your funding. You can contact the folks who set it up if you need to change your assessment date.

Remember: They’re not there to catch you out – they want to help you shine at work. The more open you are about tricky bits, the better they can help sort them.

After Your Grant Is Approved

Once you have your grant, here’s what happens next:

Setting up your support

After receiving your decision letter, the setup typically takes up to 12 weeks if you’re employed. Starting a new job soon? You’ll jump the queue if you’re starting within four weeks.

Your case manager will prepare a support package just for you. They will handle the tweaks to your workplace, get any required software running, book your first coaching sessions, and manage travel arrangements if needed.

Claiming expenses

Whether you have a paid job or are running a business, you have two ways to claim: online or by post.

For online claims, you’ll need:

• Your email and mobile number
• Your bank account details
• Your National Insurance number
• Two ways to prove your identity through the GOV.UK One Login

Whichever method you choose, keep:

• Dated records
• All your original receipts
• Bank details for payments

If you’re employed, your employer may be asked to buy things first and then claim some or all of the costs back, or Access to Work may pay a supplier directly. If you’re self-employed, the grant is sent straight to you. Don’t dawdle, though. You only have nine months to claim what’s yours.

Regular reviews

Your support runs for up to three years with a review before it ends. But you should get back in touch sooner if:

• Your condition changes
• Your job or employer changes
• Your workplace or working pattern shifts
• You need different support

If you need any changes, just contact the Access to Work team so they can review your award.

Need a hand? The helpline’s open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can help with:

• Sorting claims
• Setting up your account
• Renewing your grant
• Questions about extra funding

You can get up to £69,260 a year (for grants from April 2024), and this amount has increased historically. That kind of money can make a real difference to how ADHD is supported at work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Access to Work for ADHD: Support Meant for You

Access to Work changes lives. With up to £69,000+ in ADHD support at work each year, this programme offers real, life-changing support.

Remember those noise-cancelling headphones I mentioned? I got them through Access to Work, plus some ADHD coaching. It made such a difference – suddenly my to-do list wasn’t quite so scary.

Yes, there’s paperwork. Yes, you need to sort your documents. But if you take it step by step, everything will just fall into place. Tell them clearly how ADHD affects your work, keep your papers handy, and you’ll be fine.

The best bit? It actually works. Those headphones helped me focus in our noisy office. The coaching taught me tricks I use every day. Now I’m getting more done than ever.

The government has set aside this funding, especially for people like us, so we might as well use it to improve our work life.

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