There’s a government grant called Access to Work that will pay for your ADHD coaching and I work with clients who fund via the Access to Work scheme.
It’s been running for years, it’s available to anyone with ADHD (diagnosed or not), and it can cover up to £69,000 per year in workplace support. That includes coaching, equipment, virtual assistants, and more.
Only 1% of eligible people apply for it. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. This page has some further information on what Access to Work is, what you can claim for, and how to go about it.
Access to Work is a UK government grant scheme run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It exists to help people with disabilities, health conditions, and neurodivergent conditions (including ADHD) stay in work and perform at their best.
It isn’t a loan. You don’t pay it back. It doesn’t affect other benefits. And crucially, you don’t need a formal ADHD diagnosis to apply.
You just need to be able to describe how your ADHD (or ADHD symptoms) affects your ability to do your job.
Access to Work can fund up to £69,000 per person, per year, covering ADHD coaching, virtual assistant support, and workplace equipment.
The scheme covers people working in England, Scotland, and Wales. (Northern Ireland has its own separate system.)
For someone with ADHD, Access to Work can fund:
ADHD Coaching
Typically, 12–20 sessions of 1:1 ADHD coaching are funded. Coaching helps you build strategies that actually work for your ADHD brain, covering things like:
- Focus and attention management
- Time awareness and planning
- Procrastination and task initiation
- Overwhelm, stress, and burnout prevention
- Organisation and prioritisation
- Decision-making and accountability
For most people with ADHD, coaching is the highest-impact thing that Access to Work funds.
Virtual Assistant (Support Worker) Support
If ADHD impacts how you manage your workload, diary, or admin, you can apply for funding to hire a virtual assistant. This is someone who helps with the practical areas ADHD makes harder: scheduling, email management, task tracking, and attention to detail work.
Equipment and Tools
Access to Work can also fund:
- Ergonomic equipment (standing desks, specialist chairs, keyboards)
- Noise-cancelling headphones or white noise machines
- Smart watches and time management tools
- Body doubling and focus apps
- Text-to-speech software
- Mind-mapping tools (like Miro)
- Habit trackers and task management software (like Trello or Asana)
- Weighted blankets, fidget tools, and sensory aids
- SAD lamps and sunlight alarm clocks
If it helps your ADHD brain work better, it’s worth asking about it.
You’re eligible for Access to Work if:
- You have a physical or mental condition, disability, or neurodivergent condition (including ADHD) that makes your job harder
- You’re 16 or older
- You live and work in England, Scotland, or Wales
- You’re in paid employment (full-time, part-time, temporary, freelance, or self-employed) for at least 1 hour per week at minimum wage
- Or you have a confirmed start date or interview for a paid job
No formal diagnosis is required. Access to Work is open to people who are self-diagnosed, waiting for a diagnosis, or who identify as having ADHD symptoms that affect their work.
There is no means test. It doesn’t matter how much you earn or what you have in savings.
You can’t apply if you work in the Civil Service, live in Northern Ireland, or receive certain benefits (Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Income Support, or National Insurance credits only). Check the full eligibility criteria on GOV.UK.
The process has four stages. It takes longer than it should, but it’s absolutely worth doing.
Step 1: Complete the Online Application Form
The application form is on GOV.UK and takes around 20 minutes. It asks for:
- Your name, contact details, and National Insurance number
- Your job and employer details
- A description of your condition and how it affects your work
- An outline of the support you think you need
- Contact details for someone at your workplace who can confirm you work there (or your Unique Taxpayer Reference if self-employed)
An important note: the form is not your assessment. You won’t be judged solely on what you write here. The most important thing is to get it submitted and join the queue.
If you’d prefer not to fill in the form online, you can call Access to Work directly on 0800 121 7479 and an agent will complete it with you over the phone.
Step 2: Your Needs Assessment
Once you’re through the queue, an Access to Work adviser (also called a Case Manager) will contact you, usually by phone. This is where the real conversation happens.
They’ll ask you to describe:
- How your ADHD affects your ability to do your job
- What kind of support you think would help
- Details about your workplace and working pattern
You don’t need to provide medical evidence. You just need to describe your experience clearly and honestly.
If your situation is complex or they need more detail, they may arrange a workplace assessment, conducted either remotely or in person.
You can also expect to be asked for quotes from providers at this stage, or after your award is confirmed. If you want to work with a specific coach (like me), you can request that directly.
Step 3: Your Award
After the assessment, you’ll receive a letter confirming what you’ve been awarded and what the funding is for. This covers the type and amount of support, for example a set number of coaching hours.
If you disagree with what’s been offered, you can contact the Access to Work helpline and request a review. It’s worth knowing that awards can vary depending on your case manager, and you can make a case for what you need.
Step 4: Start Your Coaching (or Support)
Once your award is confirmed and a provider quote is approved, you can begin. Some providers (including me) invoice Access to Work directly, so you don’t need to pay anything upfront. Others may ask your employer to pay first and then claim back, or ask you to pay and be reimbursed (normally within a month).
Be prepared for the long game. The application form takes about 20 minutes, but the wait time from applying to being contacted is currently around 20–24 weeks. From there, it’s typically 6–8 months in total before coaching begins.
If you’re about to start a new job within the next four weeks, flag this: Access to Work will try to fast-track your application.
The process isn’t naturally ADHD-friendly (lots of forms and waiting). If you need support getting through it, that’s a legitimate thing to ask for help with, whether from a friend, from HR, or from a colleague.
When the form asks how ADHD affects your work, be specific. Don’t minimise it. Here are some of the areas you might mention:
- Difficulty with time management and meeting deadlines
- Procrastination and task initiation
- Memory and forgetting things
- Concentration and staying on task
- Hyperfocus (getting stuck on one thing at the expense of others)
- Planning and prioritising
- Overwhelm and decision fatigue
- Stress and burnout
When asked what you currently do to manage:
- Using calendars, reminders, and to-do lists
- Writing things down
- Project management tools and apps
- Support from colleagues
When asked what you think would help:
- ADHD coaching to build strategies and accountability
- A virtual assistant to support with admin or diary management
- Equipment to reduce sensory overwhelm or improve focus
You don’t need to know exactly what you need at this stage. That’s what the assessment is for.
I work with clients through Access to Work. If you’re applying and want to include me as your preferred ADHD coach, you can request this during your assessment. Or get in touch first and I can talk you through the process.
Once your award is confirmed and a quote from me is approved, we get started. I invoice your employer or the DWP directly, so there’s no cost to you.
If you have questions about whether I’m the right fit, or you want to understand more about how my coaching works before you apply, the best next step is a free discovery call.
Do I need a formal ADHD diagnosis? No. You can apply if you’re self-diagnosed, waiting for a diagnosis, or experiencing ADHD symptoms that affect your work. You just need to be able to describe how your condition impacts your job.
Will my employer find out? Your employer will need to confirm that you work there, and will be aware that you’re receiving workplace support. They won’t be involved in your assessment or told the details of your condition unless you choose to share them.
What if I’m self-employed? You can apply. Access to Work will generally cover the full cost of your coaching or equipment, either paid directly or reimbursed to you.
Can I choose my own ADHD coach? Yes. Access to Work may offer you a list of providers, but you can request to work with a specific coach. Get quotes ready and flag your preference during your assessment.
What if the award doesn’t cover everything I need? You can challenge the decision. Contact the Access to Work helpline and ask for a review. Explain your needs clearly and make the case for what you’re asking for. Awards do vary between case managers.
Is there a means test? No. It doesn’t matter how much you earn or what you have in savings.
How long do I have to claim? Nine months from the date of your award. Keep all receipts and invoices. You’ll need them.
- Apply for Access to Work – GOV.UK
- Access to Work eligibility criteria
- Access to Work factsheet for applicants
- Access to Work information for employers
Information on this page is correct to the best of our knowledge but should be verified against the GOV.UK Access to Work pages, as eligibility criteria and funding amounts are subject to change.
