Access to Work

We can help individuals and organisations to apply for and use Access to Work grants.

Price Match Promise: Genius Within will price match an Access to Work grant wherever possible.

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Understanding Access to Work

Access to Work is a grant scheme provided by the UK Government’s Department for Work & Pensions. The scheme is there to help you to find or stay in work if you have challenges that may be related to any disability, physical health or mental health conditions. As soon as you have difficulties (or think you’re going to have difficulties) at work, you can refer yourself to this service and gain the support that you need to be at your best.

However, it is often misunderstood so it can appear hard to get the support you need.

We have been working with the scheme since it started and so we have learned a lot.

Read on for lots more helpful information to support you.

Use the form below (or linked above) if you already have an Access to Work grant and are ready to use it.

Ready to Place Your Access to Work Order?

Just fill out the form below with your details and a copy of your grant. We’ll take care of the rest.

Before you get started…
To complete this form, you’ll need a couple of things handy:

A copy of your grant
Finance details (including your finance departments address and email)

We ask for the grant so we can match the prices and services you’ve been awarded, along with the start and expiry dates. It helps us make sure everything’s accurate and ready to go.

Here is some guidance on to how to access the support you need with an Access to Work grant.

It should be noted that the process can take up to six months from application to receiving your grant.

Whilst waiting for your grant to be approved we would recommend using the My Genius Finder™ tool – this will provide you some useful strategies to work on whilst the application is being processed.

Please note. You do NOT need to have a formal diagnosis to apply for an Access to Work grant. The support you can get will depend on your needs.

What will Access to Work pay for?

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

specialist equipment and assistive software.
support workers, such as a BSL interpreter, a workplace coach.
mental health or communications support.
costs of travelling to work if you cannot use public transport.
adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work.
physical changes to your workplace.

If you work from home, even just some of the time, your home can count as part of your workplace. Be sure to discuss this with the assessor.

Click here to visit the gov.co.uk website and apply

The Process Explained

It is a 4-step process

1. Apply

2. Assessment

3. Purchase and put adjustments in place

4. Learn, Develop, Adapt

The Process Explained

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 890 502 and they can talk you through it. Or email clientservices@geniuswithin.org

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 job. Recommendations can be for supportive adjustments such as:

physical changes to your workplace.

specialist equipment and assistive software.

support workers, such as a BSL interpreter, a workplace coach.

mental health or communications support.

costs of travelling to work if you cannot use public transport.

adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work.

physical changes to your workplace.

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, as these are often harder for others to know about and understand what is going on for you.

Step 3: Put Adjustments in Place

If you work for a small employer (under 50 employees) the support is free of charge. If you are self-employed, the Access to Work scheme will refund the cost of any support ordered.

However, if you work for a larger employer, they may need to contribute some or all the costs of equipment

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.”

Frequently Asked Questions: Access to Work

Got questions? We’ve got answers.

Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we get.

And if you don’t see your question here, no worries—just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Access to Work

Coaching

Access to Work

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:

You earn up to £140.00 a week.

You work less than 16 hours a week.

It has been agreed with your work coach.
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:

you have been working for your company for less than six weeks.

your company has fewer than 50 employees.

you are self-employed.

you work in Mental Health Support Service.

you are a support worker.

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:

Share a copy of your grant paperwork with us. We will use this to set up billing for Access to Work and ensure that the prices match your grant.

We will set you up with an account in our Portal.

We will send you a proforma invoice for the first two sessions of any series of services, e.g., any coaching services. You will need to submit this to Access to Work via the online claim portal or by post.

Access to Work will pay this invoice and we will then allocate you a coach, or one you have chosen, and you will start your sessions.

When you have finished session two, send a quick email to the Genius Within office team, clientservices@geniuswithin.org, and ask them to invoice your next two sessions.

Access to Work will then pay the next invoice and we will add another two sessions onto your account. Your coach will contact you to book you in.

Once again, message clientservices@geniuswithin.org when you’ve completed the next two sessions and we will arrange the next invoice, and so on until the sessions detailed on your grant are completed.

Coaching