EMPLOYERS - Access to Work (ATW)

Access to Work (AtW) is a FREE government grant to support your disabled employee/s to start work, stay at work, or reduce absence from employment. 

More information can be found here  

Below are the types of support you can get through Access to Work - 

Communication support:

• you’re deaf or hard of hearing and need a BSL interpreter or lip speaker
• you have a physical or mental health condition or learning difficulty and need communication support
• money to pay for communication support at job interviews

Practical support:

• Adaptations to your vehicle so you can get to work
• taxi fares to work or a support worker if you cannot use public transport
• a support worker or job coach to help you in your workplace
• a grant to help pay for practical support with your work

Mental health:

• a tailored plan to help you get or stay at work
• one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional
• support with managing your mental health at work

For Access to Work purposes, self-employment is:

• operating a business either on your account or in partnership, or working for an employer on a self-employed basis
• operating a franchised business on a self-employed basis
• possessing a Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number.

Get help from Access to Work (Easy Read)

We at IntroSign can help you through the process of applying for ATW, this can be done in two ways - 

• contacting ATW via phone with one of our friendly Communication support workers 

or

• via an online form

alternatively, you can apply yourself directly to the ATW service centre yourself via the government website. 

We have a range of Communication Support Workers and 

NRCPD British Sign Language interpreters 

can support you through your application.

Contact us here

Do I have to repay the money back to the Government?

No, ATW is a FREE GRANT that has been set up to enable people with physical or mental disabilities to help them getting into employment or to sustain their current employment. 

Can IntroSign help me apply? 

Yes, we have lots of experience setting up new claims, filling in application forms and the on-going paper work needed to submit to ATW when making a claim. 

How Long does the application process take?

Once the first application from has been filled in and sent to ATW, one of the team will contact you to discuss you application further and get more information about your work and how your condition affects you and what support is required. They will also ask for permission to contact your employer to discuss your work duties or to arrange an assessor to contact you to discuss the claim or they may want to view your workplace via video call or in person. to understand what type of support to offer you. 

Is there a maximum budget ATW can give?

Yes, although this does increase every year to match interpret rates of pay. please see the fact sheet for more information.