Access to Work for ADHD and autism
A practical guide to the government scheme that funds support at work — who's eligible, how to apply, what it covers and how to claim.
Eight short chapters. Jump to whichever one you need.
Start here
What Access to Work is, and where it sits next to your employer's duty.
Access to Work is a government grant that pays for practical support to help you start or stay in work. It sits alongside your employer's legal duty to make reasonable adjustments — it doesn't replace it. For that duty itself, see our reasonable adjustments guide; this page is about the funded scheme.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Who's eligible
Who the scheme is open to, including if you're self-employed.
Two things need to be true.
You have a disability or condition. ADHD, autism and other forms of neurodivergence are commonly covered — you don't need a formal diagnosis to apply.
You have paid work, or are about to start. This can be full time or part time.
- If you're self-employed, your turnover needs to be at least £6,708 a year (2026/27 threshold — this rises each year, so check GOV.UK for the current figure)
- If you work fewer than 16 hours a week, you can claim Access to Work and ESA at the same time
How to apply
What to prepare, what they'll ask and what happens after.
You apply yourself — it's your application, not your employer's — online or by phone on 0800 121 7479.
What you'll need to provide
- Contact details, your work address and a workplace contact
- Your UTR and National Insurance number
- Details of your condition and the support you think you need
What they'll ask
Expect questions like whether you need specialist equipment, whether you already know what kind, and how it would help you at work. Depending on your answers, you may be offered a workplace assessment or a remote meeting.
After you apply
Someone from Access to Work will contact you, usually by phone. They may ask for more detail about your work and condition, ask permission to speak to your employer, and arrange for an assessor to call or view your workplace on video. You'll then get a letter confirming the decision — including how much you've been awarded and what it should cover.
What it can fund
Four areas that come up often, so you know what to ask for.
The rules don't name specific products — funding is based on what your assessment says you need. But certain kinds of support come up often enough that they're worth knowing about before your assessment, so you can ask the right questions.
There's also an annual cap on total support, currently £69,260 — most claims sit well below this.
Support
- ADHD coaching — typically around 12–24 hours over 6 months
- A virtual assistant for tasks, calendar and project management — often 10–20 hours a week
Hardware
- Noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs
- A reMarkable-style paper tablet
- An ergonomic mouse and keyboard
- A visual timer
- A laptop (often part-funded)
- A SAD lamp
Office equipment
- Standing desk, second monitor, ergonomic chair, rocking footrest
Software
- Body-doubling and focus apps
- Speech-recognition and writing-assistance tools
- Note-taking, mind-mapping and daily-planning apps
None of this is guaranteed — every claim is assessed on your own needs — but it gives you a starting point for the conversation rather than a blank page.
Claiming your money
How you claim it back, and what you'll need to hand.
If you're the one paying for the items — this is especially common for self-employed applicants — you claim online or by post once you've had the support.
You'll need:
- The dates you had support
- Invoices or receipts showing the cost
- Your bank details
In other cases, your employer pays directly and Access to Work reimburses them instead.
Where Humble fits
One option, not the point of this guide.
Humble is organising software built for ADHD and autistic minds — the kind of assistive software Access to Work can fund. If your assessment covers help with organising tasks, notes and follow-through, Humble is a reasonable thing to put forward.
- One trusted place for tasks and notes, so nothing lives only in your head
- Now, next and later instead of everything at once
- Progress that shows from the work you've already done, rather than chased in meetings
Book a call if you'd like help putting together what to say in your application.
Common questions
Straight answers to the questions that come up most.
No. You don't need a formal diagnosis to apply or to be eligible — describing the difficulty and the support that would help is enough to start.
No. Access to Work pays you or your employer directly for approved support — it doesn't come out of your employer's budget in the way reasonable adjustments do.
No. A grant doesn't affect other benefits you receive, and you don't have to pay it back.
Yes, as long as your turnover meets the current threshold (£6,708 a year for 2026/27).
It varies, but expect several weeks between applying and getting a decision letter — apply as early as you can rather than waiting until support is urgent.
Sources
Every source used, listed in full.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Figures and thresholds change — check GOV.UK for the current position.
Built by people who needed it themselves
Humble is organising software built for ADHD and autistic minds — the kind of assistive software Access to Work can fund.
No credit card required.