Access to Work should remove barriers. Not create more.
Access to Work can provide valuable practical and financial support. But applying, gathering evidence, challenging a decision, claiming costs and renewing an award can become complicated and frustrating.
You do not have to manage it alone.
Access to Work is designed to help disabled people and people with physical or mental health conditions start, remain in or return to paid work.
Unfortunately, the process can demand significant time, organisation, written communication and persistence. These may be the same areas in which an applicant needs support.
Our aim is simple. We help you understand what is required, organise the information and keep the process moving.
You are not imagining the difficulty
Recent official figures show a heavily delayed system in which thousands of applicants do not receive approval.
27,297 applications were not approved between April and October 2025, representing 33% of decisions during that period.
The average processing time reported to Parliament in 2026, against a departmental target of 25 working days.
The estimated application backlog reported in March 2026.
Challenging a decision can be worth it.
DWP management information shows that Access to Work received 353 reconsideration requests during 2023. Of those, 253 decisions were overturned.
We can help review the decision, identify missing or misunderstood information, gather stronger evidence and prepare a clear reconsideration request.
Access to Work officially calls this a reconsideration, rather than an appeal. The 2023 figures are unpublished DWP management information and were not quality-assured as official statistics.
Support is based on the barriers you face at work
A formal diagnosis is not always required. What matters is how a disability or health condition affects your ability to do your job or travel to work.
Basic eligibility
- You are aged 16 or over.
- You normally live and work in Great Britain.
- You have a disability, illness, physical condition or mental health condition.
- The condition means you need practical, financial or human support to work.
- You are in paid work or about to start or return to paid work.
Types of work
- Full-time or part-time employment.
- Permanent, temporary or casual paid work.
- Self-employment or company directorship.
- Apprenticeships and supported internships.
- Some Jobcentre Plus work trials.
- Working from home or hybrid working.
- Communication support for a job interview.
Self-employed applicants
- You will normally need a Unique Taxpayer Reference.
- An established business should normally meet the current viability turnover threshold.
- The 2026 to 2027 Lower Earnings Limit is £6,708.
- New businesses can be considered during an initial test-trading period.
- A credible business plan may be required.
Examples of conditions
- ADHD or dyslexia.
- Anxiety, depression or another mental health condition.
- Blindness or low vision.
- Deafness or hearing loss.
- A learning disability.
- Mobility or dexterity limitations.
- Diabetes, epilepsy or another health condition.
- A temporary condition that creates a work barrier.
Practical support based on individual needs
The support must address a disability-related workplace barrier and be agreed as part of the individual award.
Support workers
Human support that helps someone carry out their role or manage disability-related workplace barriers.
- Job coach or job aide.
- Administrative support.
- Workplace driver.
- Travel buddy.
- Note-taking assistance.
Communication support
Support for people who experience barriers when communicating at work or during an interview.
- British Sign Language interpreter.
- Lipspeaker.
- Speech-to-text support.
- Communication support at interviews.
- Other approved communication assistance.
Equipment and software
Specialist or adapted tools needed because of the person’s disability or health condition.
- Specialist workplace equipment.
- Adaptations to existing equipment.
- Screen-reading software.
- Magnification technology.
- Speech-recognition software.
Travel to work
Additional travel costs caused by a disability or health condition.
- Taxi costs where public transport cannot be used.
- Vehicle adaptations.
- A driver or travel buddy.
- Approved extra business travel support.
Mental health support
Practical workplace support to help someone start, remain in or return to work.
- A personalised workplace support plan.
- One-to-one specialist sessions.
- Support managing workplace barriers.
- Help reducing absence or returning to work.
Workplace adaptations
Additional adaptations that go beyond what an employer must provide as a reasonable adjustment.
- Physical workplace changes.
- Moving approved equipment.
- Support across more than one work location.
- Approved home or hybrid working support.
What is not normally covered?
Access to Work is not general business funding and does not replace an employer’s legal responsibilities.
Support throughout the whole process
Choose the help you need, whether you are applying for the first time or already have an award.
Applications and form filling
We help turn your experience into clear information that explains the barriers affecting you at work.
- Work through the application together.
- Explain unfamiliar questions.
- Turn voice notes into written answers.
- Identify relevant workplace barriers.
Evidence and quotations
We organise the documents and practical information needed to support the application.
- Medical or professional evidence.
- Job descriptions and workplace information.
- Examples of difficult tasks.
- Equipment and support quotations.
Assessment preparation
We help you prepare to explain your needs clearly during conversations with a case manager or assessor.
- What happens on a difficult working day.
- What support has already been tried.
- Why the requested support is necessary.
- How it would help you work effectively.
Reconsiderations and complaints
We help challenge an inadequate or incorrect decision and identify when a service complaint may be relevant.
- Review the award or refusal.
- Identify errors or missing evidence.
- Prepare a reconsideration request.
- Help with complaints about poor handling.
Account and claim management
Once support is approved, we help keep claims, invoices and payments organised.
- Organise invoices and supporting evidence.
- Upload or submit approved claims.
- Record support worker hours and costs.
- Monitor outstanding reimbursements.
- Follow up delayed payments.
Renewal applications
Support does not automatically continue when an award ends. A renewal application is normally required.
- Review the existing award.
- Update evidence and quotations.
- Explain why support is still needed.
- Prepare and track the renewal.
Could Access to Work fund our help?
Some practical services provided by Another Brilliant Idea may be eligible when they directly address an approved disability-related workplace barrier.
This might include disability-related administrative support, help organising and prioritising work, job-aide assistance, communication support or other practical support agreed within an Access to Work award.
Funding is decided individually by Access to Work. The particular tasks, hours, provider and costs should be approved before relying on funding.
Apply, evidence, challenge, manage and renew
We help keep each stage organised so important actions and deadlines are less likely to be missed.
Understand
Discuss your job, condition, workplace barriers and the support that might help.
Apply
Complete the application with clear, relevant answers and practical support requests.
Evidence
Gather supporting documents, workplace examples and appropriate quotations.
Manage
Organise invoices, submit claims and monitor payments against the approved award.
Renew
Prepare the renewal and explain why the approved support remains necessary.
Important information
Another Brilliant Idea is an independent support service and is not part of the Department for Work and Pensions. Access to Work decisions are made by DWP. Information on this page is general guidance and does not guarantee eligibility, approval, funding or payment.
You do not have to manage Access to Work alone.
Whether you are applying, waiting for a decision, challenging an award, chasing unpaid claims or preparing for renewal, start by booking a meeting.