Access to Work

You do need to be one of the following 

1. Apply

2. Assessment

3. Purchase and put adjustments in place

4. Learn, Develop, Adapt

Step 1: Apply

Apply online here at the Government website. If you are unsure what to write, you can call and speak to one of our Client Services Team colleagues on 01273 890502 and they can talk you through it.

Step 2: Assessment

Once your application has gone through, you will receive a call from an assessor from the DWP, Maximus or Reed, who will arrange an assessment. 

Following the assessment, they will  write a report recommending the support they think you need to perform effectively in your role. Recommendations can be for supportive adjustments such as a speech-to-text piece of software, some one-to-one strategy coaching sessions (that might look at your communication, organisation, memory or time management skills) or even support with the cost of taxis to and from work because your condition means you struggle to drive or take public transport.  

Access to Work can even provide training for your colleagues in how to best support you and understand your condition or disability. This can be crucial for supporting non-apparent disabilities including neurodivergence, mental health, and where physical conditions affect thinking. These are often harder for others to know about and understand what is going on for you.

Step 3: Put Adjustments in Place

Once your grant is approved, you will receive written confirmation. The DWP may provide you with a list of retailers where you can buy any of the recommendations. You do not need to follow this list and we can help you to source and supply most elements.

Talk to our team about Price Matching. It is important to be able to make your claims easily. We therefore commit to price matching any rates for services detailed in your grant.

If you are self-employed or work for a small employer (under 50 employees) you will purchase the support and will be able to claim the full value back against the grant. However, if you work for a larger employer, they may need to contribute some or all of the costs. The costs of any coaching or training are currently covered in full by the grant, regardless the size of business.  

Please note the employer would pay Genius Within in advance and claim the funds back from the grant once the sessions have taken place. 

Step 4: Learn – Develop – Adapt

Once you have received your adjustments, there’s usually a period of training, such as how to use new technology, co-coaching with your line manager to navigate communication difficulties, or strategy coaching to help you to use your strengths to overcome any difficulties that you have – whatever it is it doesn’t happen overnight! 

Review The Impact

Here’s an example of the impact from one individual:

“I’m more productive in my meetings, and my to-do list is more manageable. I’m no longer procrastinating about writing long reports. Even my line manager has noticed the difference. Having come out the other side, if I’d done this years ago who knows how far I would have gotten in my career now as everything is easier, quicker and a lot less stressful.” 

Our evidence shows that performance can be dramatically improved following strategy coaching and our own personal experiences of Access to Work is that once it is given some time, attention and value, the difference in working practices can be huge. Stress levels can be massively reduced meaning that you can feel better and perform better at work. 

Access to Work is a grant scheme provided by the Department for Work & Pensions, which can help you to find or stay in work if you have any challenges that may be related to any disability, or any physical health or mental health conditions. The support you can get will depend on your needs.

Through Access to Work, you can apply for:

1/ A grant to help pay for practical support with your workplace.

2/ Support with managing your disability or mental health at work.

Access to Work could give you a grant to help pay for things like:

Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all the time. Be sure to discuss this with the assessor.

It does not matter how much you earn. If you get an Access to Work grant, it will not affect any other benefits you get and you will not have to pay it back.

You or your employer will need to pay some costs up front and claim them back later.

Access to Work does 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.

The application process can be done online or via the telephone. Ask for some support from your manager, HR, or even us at Genius Within, if you need it.

How to choose a supplier?

Choosing a supplier for any services can be a daunting task. Here are some tips to help:

Am I eligible for an Access to Work assessment if I am in work?

To be eligible, you need to be in work and have something that makes it difficult for you to work efficiently. This doesn’t mean you need to have a formal diagnosis. Anxiety, back pain, problems with your memory or organisational skills can all be reasons to ask for help. You can be working in an apprenticeship, an internship or even a work trial. Providing it is paid work, you can apply.

What do I need to do before making my application?

Access to Work will need someone from your company to be on board with your application. If your company has more than 50 employees, it may need to contribute to the cost of your support. Talk with your line manager and/or your human resources about the things you feel would help you to work at your best.

How do I make an application? Is it time consuming or complicated?

You can make your application online. All you need to start is the name of your company, its address and a contact in the company who can confirm that the company supports your application. You will then have a series of short questions about what condition is leading you to make the application, how you get to work and what it is that is making it difficult to work efficiently. The questions are usually easy to follow.

What do I do if Access to Work ask me to put together a program of support and obtain quotes?

Speak with your manager, HR, or call us. We know that some assessors are less proactive than others and want you to figure out for yourself what you need. We can help you with this. We can supply you with quotes and give you contact information for some of our partner companies who also help Access to Work clients.

You can call us between 9 and 5 on 01273 890502

Or send us an email at clientservices@geniuswithin.org. We are here to help.

Will this interfere with other benefits I’m receiving?

If you receive Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support, you can still get help from Access to Work as long as you work more than one hour a week. If you are receiving Employment and Support Allowance, you can only get help from Access to Work if you’re doing ‘permitted work’. It’s permitted work if all the following apply:

Who pays for the support?

Your company may be liable for some of the support, depending on its size and how long you have been working there. If your company has between 50 and 249 employees, it will be liable for the first £500 of support and then 20% of the support up to £10,000. If your company has 250 employees or more, it will be liable for the first £1000 of the support and then 20% of the support up to £10,000. Access to Work will pay 100% of the support over £10,000.

Is support ever free for my company?

Good news! Access to Work will fund your support completely if any one of the following conditions is true:

Regardless of the size of your company, Access to Work will always cover 100% of your grant for coaching and training. Your company will only have to share the cost for special aids and equipment, travel, and adaptations to premises or equipment.

How long does the grant last for?

Your grant will usually be agreed for 6 or 12 months and should be spent within that duration. In some cases, they may agree your grant for the maximum 3 years. If you have a series of coaching or training services that will go beyond the end date, you should contact Access to Work and ask them to extend your grant.

What if I change role or employer?

If you change roles, ordinarily your company can help you transfer any equipment. If you leave your employer, you will need to discuss with them as they may have contributed to the costs of equipment. You cannot automatically transfer awards for support workers or travel. You would need to contact the Access to Work team to discuss your new arrangements and update your grant.

What if I am coming to the end of my support and feel I still need help?

You can renew your application up to 12 weeks before it ends. This can be done online or by phone and an assessor will get in touch to find out if anything has changed in your situation and what you would like to receive. Access to Work will support you for up to three years in total.

I am self-employed. Can Access to Work pay for my coaching directly?

If you are self-employed or not involving any employer in your support, we can arrange a payment plan, where you can pay for a few sessions at a time and then claim the monies back, before paying for the next set of sessions.

Access to Work can pay for some services directly, however, you should be aware that it adds some delay to the process as they will not pay the value of the grant in full. We will work with you to manage the administration of this where possible.

Process: