Access to Work and ADHD
Access to Work is a government scheme that helps people with a disability or health condition start or stay in work. It runs in England, Scotland and Wales, and it can pay for practical support that your employer cannot reasonably provide on their own. ADHD can count, and you do not always need a formal diagnosis to apply — what matters is how your condition affects you at work.
The support is shaped around you. Depending on your needs, it might include coaching or coping-strategy sessions, assistive software, help with travel if you cannot use public transport, or a support worker. It is not a loan and you do not pay it back, although your employer may be asked to contribute some costs.
When you apply, you will be asked how your condition affects your job. It helps to describe real, everyday examples rather than medical terms. For instance: “I lose track of time in long meetings and miss actions agreed for me”, or “I find open-plan noise so distracting that tasks take twice as long”. Clear, specific examples make it easier for an assessor to recommend the right support.
After you apply, an assessor may contact you and sometimes your employer to talk through your role. You will then receive a decision letter setting out what support has been agreed and how much funding is available.
You can read the full rules and apply on the GOV.UK Access to Work page. Northern Ireland has a separate system, so check the nidirect website if you work there.