AtW Employees
Clear routes. Real support. No matter how you work - Accessibility for you as an Employer, Employee, and Freelancer.
Access to Work is a resource that helps to create a more accessible work environment. It provides grants to remove barriers that disabled individuals face in undertaking paid employment.
This guide has been designed to interpret the Access to Work rules and official guidance for employees with specific advice for UK Television.
Eligibility
To get help, you must be disabled or living with a long-term health condition, which means you face barriers in doing your job. You must also be 16 or over, and there is no upper age limit.
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You must live and work in England, Scotland, or Wales. You can’t get Access to Work if you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and there’s a different system in Northern Ireland.
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No list of conditions or impairments is ineligible for Access to Work. So, as long as you face barriers doing your job, you can make the case for a grant. People with many different requirements get Access to Work from support for dyslexia, communication, and mental health, through to mobility assistance.
You need to have a paid job, or be about to start or return to one.
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There is no minimum earning limit (different rules apply if you are self-employed). A paid job generally means full or part-time paid work, whether permanent, casual, or temporary (a standard PAYE job), but also could include:
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An apprenticeship
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A work trial arranged by Jobcentre Plus
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Up to 8 weeks of unpaid work experience
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A Department for Education Supported Internship
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If you are self-employed, please see our separate guide.
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If you’re currently looking for a job, you can also apply to Access to Work if you need communication support at interviews.
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You can’t get a grant for voluntary work or for when you are in training, except for training related to your paid employment.
If you receive benefits, these may affect whether you can get an Access to Work grant. If you are receiving Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Income Support, you can still get help from Access to Work if you work more than one hour a week.
You can get Access to Work if you’re on Employment Support Allowance, if you are doing permitted work as agreed with Jobcentre Plus, and working less than 16 hours a week. If you’re on supported permitted work, there is no maximum hour limit to your work, but there is always a maximum you can earn whilst on ESA. For instance, in April 2024 – April 2025, this was £183.50 per week.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is not means-tested and is not directly affected by working hours, pay, or having Access to Work.
Resources
CDN has developed a range of resources for your use, including a guide for Employees.