Access to Work
How much is the grant, and how is it actually paid?
The Access to Work cap for 2026/27 is £69,260 per year. The grant is not cash: it is an award against agreed support, claimed back with receipts (you have 9 months to claim a cost) or paid to suppliers. You contribute nothing yourself; employers with 50 or more staff share the cost of equipment-type items only, while support workers, travel help, the Mental Health Support Service and all self-employed support are 100% funded. The grant is not means tested, not taxable, not repayable, and does not affect benefits.
Information only, not benefits advice. Figures checked 19 July 2026 (Sources: Access to Work factsheet for customers; factsheet for employers).
Employer cost sharing (equipment and adaptations only)
Applies only where the employee has been in post more than 6 weeks, and only to special aids, equipment and adaptations. The employee never contributes.
| Employer size | Employer pays |
|---|---|
| 0 to 49 employees | No contribution |
| 50 to 249 employees | First £500, then 20% of costs up to £10,000 |
| 250 or more employees | First £1,000, then 20% of costs up to £10,000 |
The 20% share between the threshold and £10,000 is the same for both contributing bands; only the initial threshold differs (£500 versus £1,000). Above £10,000, Access to Work pays in full (Source: gov.uk: Access to Work factsheet for employers).
Always 100% funded, no cost share
- Support workers (including job coaches, note-takers and travel buddies)
- Additional travel to and from work, and within work
- Communication support at job interviews
- The Mental Health Support Service
- All support for self-employed people
- All support in your first 6 weeks with an employer
The claim cycle, honestly described
Once support is agreed you get an award letter setting out what is covered, for how long, and how to claim. The rhythm is: pay or book the agreed support, gather the receipt or invoice and any required sign-off, submit the claim, get reimbursed. For ongoing items like support-worker hours or coaching blocks, that means regular claims rather than one payment.
Be honest with yourself about the admin loop: it is exactly the kind of repeating paperwork ADHD makes hard, and unclaimed costs expire after 9 months. Two mitigations work: ask for PA hours that explicitly include completing the claim forms, and set a fixed monthly claim slot with a reminder. The ask-list generator includes the claim-form support ask for exactly this reason.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Access to Work grant?
Up to £69,260 per year for awards from 1 April 2026 (the 2026/27 cap, per the gov.uk factsheet). That is a ceiling, not a typical award: most ADHD packages (coaching, support worker hours, software, equipment) sit far below it, which also means there is no reason to trim a genuine ask list.
Is the grant paid to me as money I can spend?
No. It is an award against specific agreed support. Typically you (or your employer) pay for the agreed item or hours and claim it back with receipts and sign-off, or in some cases suppliers are paid directly. It is not a cash benefit and never lands as spendable income.
How long do I have to claim costs back?
You have 9 months to claim for costs under the current factsheet. Keep every receipt, and if forms are exactly what your ADHD makes hard, remember you can ask for support-worker hours specifically to help complete the claim paperwork.
Do I have to pay anything myself?
No, you never contribute yourself. Cost sharing only applies to special aids, equipment and adaptations claimed by employees who have been in post more than 6 weeks, and it falls on the employer, not you. Support workers, travel help, interview support, the Mental Health Support Service, everything in your first 6 weeks, and everything for self-employed people is 100% funded.
Does the grant affect tax or benefits?
No. An Access to Work grant does not affect other benefits and does not have to be repaid. For self-employed people, reimbursements for agreed support are not treated as trading income; keep the paperwork with your records.
Editor, ADHD Helper
Adam leads ADHD Helper's editorial coverage of adult ADHD, and he writes it from lived experience: Adam has ADHD himself, diagnosed as an adult, and has been through the assessment routes and the daily workarounds this site covers. He is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and researches the plain-English explainers on getting an ADHD assessment through NHS Right to Choose or privately, and on the products and tools people use to manage ADHD, drawing on guidance from the NHS, NICE and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is clear that the site is information, not medical advice, and that diagnosis is for a registered clinician.
Last reviewed: 19 July 2026