Guidance

Access to Work: factsheet for customers

Factsheet about Access to Work and how it can help overcome barriers to starting or keeping a job if you have a disability or long term health condition.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 1 October 2012
• Last updated: 16 May 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Access to Work: factsheet for customers

HTML

Details

This factsheet explains how Access to Work can provide practical and financial support to help you overcome barriers to starting or keeping a job if you have a disability or long term physical or mental health condition. It explains:

• who can get help from Access to Work
• what you’ll get
• how to claim
• how to ask for your award to be looked at again and how to complain

British Sign Language (BSL) videos

Watch the Access to Work: factsheet for customers BSL videos

Find more information on GOV.UK

Read more about Access to Work.

Read our employers’ guide to Access to Work.

Published 1 October 2012
Last updated 16 May 2024 + show all updates

1. 16 May 2024

   Added new Access to Work grant cap of £69,260 effective from 8 April 2024.

2. 13 June 2023

   Removed the 'Access to Work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak' section. Updated 'How can it help me?' section to include flexible working arrangements.

3. 10 April 2023

   Updated with the latest benefit rates, effective from 10 April 2023

4. 9 May 2022

   Added the maximum annual award limit for 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 - this is £65,180.

5. 31 January 2022

   Updated the Access to Work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak section.

6. 3 November 2021

   Updated information on how to claim, including accessible formats and communication methods.

7. 18 August 2021

   Updates made to 'Claiming Access to Work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak' and 'Renewals' sections.

8. 1 April 2021

   Updated with the latest rates effective from 1 April 2021.

9. 17 August 2020

   Updated guidance under heading 'Claiming Access to Work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak'.

10. 15 July 2020

    Updated the guidance on claiming travel costs during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to remove the line explaining you do not need to get evidence to support your claim.

11. 12 May 2020

    Added Welsh translations of updated the guidance with a new section on changes introduced to Access to Work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

12. 7 May 2020

    Updated the guidance with a new section on changes introduced to Access to Work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

13. 3 April 2020

    Added latest Access to Work upper limit from April 2020.

14. 17 July 2019

    Added Welsh translation.

15. 1 April 2019

    Added Access to Work cap amount of £59,200 for 2019 to 2020 to the HTML and PDF guides.

16. 4 April 2018

    Added Access to Work cap amount of £57,200 for 2018 to 2019 to the HTML and PDF guides.

17. 28 February 2017

    Updated the fact sheet with information about the Access to Work cap from April 2017.

18. 27 February 2017

    Updated the 'How to claim' section of the factsheet.

19. 7 June 2016

    Updated the fact sheet with information about the Access to Work cap from April 2016.

20. 23 December 2015

    Published updated version of the factsheet with more detail about the rules for Access to Work and British Sign Language videos.

21. 12 March 2015

    Added 2 more conditions in factsheet under 'Do I qualify for this help?' - are about to start a Department for Education supported internship or BIS traineeship, or - are about to start self-arranged work experience under

22. 7 May 2014

    Factsheets updated to provide the latest information about Access to Work

23. 1 October 2012

    First published.