Quick answer: Access to Work is a government grant that helps you get or stay in work if arthritis or another health condition affects your job. It can pay for specialist equipment, adaptations, a support worker or taxis to work if you cannot use public transport. It does not replace your employer's legal duty to make reasonable adjustments, and you do not pay it back.
Checked on 10 October 2026 against GOV.UK: Access to Work and nidirect: Access to Work (NI). Check the official pages before you apply, as the scheme's processes can change.
Arthritis can make parts of a job harder: a long commute on crowded trains, typing with painful hands, standing all shift, or lifting and carrying. Many people assume the only choices are to struggle on or stop work. Access to Work is one of the most useful but least-known forms of help. It is a grant, not a loan or a benefit, so it does not affect your other benefits and you do not have to pay it back.
What Access to Work is
GOV.UK says Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. Through it, you can apply for:
- a grant to help pay for practical support with your work
- support with managing your mental health at work
- money for communication support at job interviews
Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time. You or your employer may need to pay some costs up front and claim them back.
Who can get it
For the practical support grant, GOV.UK says you must:
- have a physical or mental health condition or disability that means you need support to do your job or get to and from work
- be 16 or over
- be in paid work, or be about to start or return to paid work in the next 12 weeks
- live and work in England, Scotland or Wales (Northern Ireland has a separate system)
Some details that often surprise people:
- You do not need a diagnosis to apply.
- Paid work includes full or part-time employment, self-employment, apprenticeships, work trials, internships and work placements. Voluntary work does not count.
- Earnings and savings do not matter if you are employed.
- If you are self-employed, you need an annual turnover of at least £6,500.
- If you get ESA, you can get Access to Work at the same time if you work less than 16 hours a week.
- Civil servants get support from their employer instead.
What it can pay for
GOV.UK lists examples including specialist equipment and assistive software, support workers, travel costs if you cannot use public transport, vehicle adaptations and physical changes to your workplace. For arthritis, that can look like this:
| Difficulty at work | Examples of support that might be considered |
|---|---|
| Painful hands and wrists when typing | Voice recognition software, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, a vertical mouse, a document holder |
| Back, hip or knee pain when sitting or standing | A specialist chair, a sit-stand desk, a perching stool, anti-fatigue mats |
| Cannot use buses or trains because of pain or stiffness | Help with taxi fares to and from work |
| Driving to work is difficult | Adaptations to your own vehicle, such as steering aids or a swivel seat |
| Lifting, carrying or manual tasks | A support worker for parts of the job, trolleys or lifting aids |
| Access to the building | Physical changes such as handrails or adapted doors |
What you actually get depends on your needs and the assessment. These are examples, not promises.
How it fits with reasonable adjustments
This is important. Under the Equality Act 2010 (England, Scotland and Wales), your employer has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments if you are disabled. GOV.UK is clear that Access to Work will not pay for reasonable adjustments: it pays for support beyond what your employer must legally provide, and will advise your employer if a change should be made as a reasonable adjustment. In Northern Ireland, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 sets out a similar duty.
In practice, many employers make simple changes (a different chair, flexible start times, a parking space near the door) and Access to Work helps with more specialist or costly support. Our working with arthritis toolkit explains your rights and how to ask for adjustments.
Does arthritis count as a disability?
For the Equality Act, GOV.UK says you are disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. "Long-term" usually means 12 months or more. Many people with arthritis meet this. Access to Work itself uses its own test: whether your condition means you need support to do your job or get to work.
How to apply, step by step
- Check you are eligible on GOV.UK.
- Gather your details. GOV.UK says you will need your contact details, workplace address and postcode, information about how your condition affects your work and the support you think you need, details of a workplace contact who can confirm you work there (they will not be contacted without your permission), your National Insurance number, and your Unique Taxpayer Reference if you are self-employed.
- Apply online or by phone. The Access to Work helpline is 0800 121 7479 (Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479), Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. You can ask for all communication to be by email if phone calls are difficult.
- Talk to the adviser. Someone from Access to Work will contact you. They may ask for more information, ask permission to speak to your employer, and arrange an assessor to call you or view your workplace by video or in person.
- Get your decision letter. It tells you how much your grant will be and what it should pay for.
Describing arthritis on your application
- Describe the tasks at work you find hard, not just your diagnosis: "I cannot type for more than 20 minutes without severe wrist pain" is more useful than "I have rheumatoid arthritis".
- Explain how it varies, including flares and morning stiffness, and how your commute affects you.
- Say what you have tried and what you think would help.
- Mention any advice from your physiotherapist, occupational therapist or occupational health team.
The workplace assessment
If an assessment is needed, an assessor will look at your tasks, workstation, equipment and journey, and recommend support. It can happen by phone, by video or in person. Prepare by:
- listing the tasks that cause pain or fatigue, and when in the day
- thinking about what a bad day or flare looks like at work
- being ready to show your workstation, tools and how you get in and out of the building
- being honest about the after-effects, such as being exhausted after a long shift
Claiming money and renewing
GOV.UK says you can claim money from your grant online or by post, using the paper claim form sent with your decision letter. If your grant runs out and you still need something your decision letter says you need, contact the helpline.
If your grant pays for ongoing support, such as a support worker or taxis, you need to renew it before it ends. Your decision letter says when it ends, and you can apply to renew 12 weeks before. Another workplace assessment might be needed.
Tell Access to Work if your circumstances change, for example if you change jobs, move workplace or your condition changes.
If you disagree with the decision
GOV.UK says that if you disagree with a decision, you can call the Access to Work helpline to ask someone to reconsider your application. Explain what you think was missed and send any new information, such as a letter from your occupational therapist.
Mental health support
Living with pain and fatigue can affect your mood, and some people with arthritis also have anxiety or depression. Access to Work's mental health support can include a tailored plan to help you stay in work and one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional. GOV.UK says you apply directly to either Able Futures or Maximus (only one of them), and you can only have this support through Access to Work once.
An illustrative example
This made-up example shows how the pieces can fit together. Sam works in an office and has rheumatoid arthritis affecting the hands, wrists and feet. Their employer agrees to a later start time on bad mornings, a parking space near the entrance and regular breaks as reasonable adjustments. Sam applies to Access to Work, which arranges an assessment. The assessor recommends voice recognition software, an ergonomic keyboard and a specialist chair. The decision letter explains what the grant covers and how to claim. Sam keeps a note of the renewal date in case ongoing support is needed later.
Common reasons applications stall, and how to avoid them
- Vague descriptions. Be specific about tasks, times and the effect on you.
- Missing workplace contact details. Have them ready, and tell the person in advance that Access to Work may ask to speak to them with your permission.
- Not chasing quotes or claims. If the grant relies on quotes from suppliers, or you need to submit claim forms, keep on top of them.
- Waiting for things to get worse. You can apply while you are coping but struggling, or before you start a new job.
- Forgetting to renew. Put the renewal date in your diary, 12 weeks before your grant ends.
If you are self-employed
Access to Work can help self-employed people too, as long as your annual turnover is at least £6,500. This can be very useful if arthritis affects work such as driving between jobs, using tools or sitting at a desk all day. Have your Unique Taxpayer Reference ready when you apply.
Northern Ireland: Access to Work (NI)
In Northern Ireland, the Department for Communities runs Access to Work (NI). nidirect says it can help towards the cost of special aids and equipment, adaptations to premises and equipment, support at work or getting to and from work, and extra travel costs because of disability. Like the GB scheme, it will not pay for reasonable adjustments, standard equipment or standard business costs. Help is approved for as long as it is needed, up to a maximum of three years, after which it is reviewed. To apply, contact the Department for Communities or a work coach at your local Jobs and Benefits office.
Other help to combine with Access to Work
- Reasonable adjustments from your employer
- Flexible working: all employees have the legal right to request it
- Occupational health, if your employer has it
- Fit notes that suggest changes such as amended duties or a phased return; see our sick pay and fit notes guide
- PIP, which you can claim while working; see can you claim PIP for arthritis?
For a short summary of the scheme, see Access to Work at a glance.
Free, independent advice
Citizens Advice, Acas (for workplace rights in Great Britain), the Equality Advisory and Support Service, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Scope and Disability Rights UK all provide free information. We are not connected to these organisations.
When to get medical help
If work is making your arthritis much worse, speak to your GP, rheumatology team or physiotherapist. They may adjust your treatment, suggest a fit note recommending changes, or refer you to occupational therapy. Get same-day advice from your GP or NHS 111 if a joint becomes suddenly hot, swollen and very painful, especially with fever.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Access to Work for arthritis?
Yes, if arthritis means you need support to do your job or to get to and from work, and you meet the other conditions, such as being 16 or over and in paid work. You do not need a formal diagnosis.
Does Access to Work affect my benefits?
No. GOV.UK says an Access to Work grant will not affect any other benefits you get, and you do not have to pay it back.
Will my employer find out?
If you are employed, you give details of a workplace contact, but GOV.UK says they will not be contacted without your permission. In practice, most support involves your employer.
Can Access to Work pay for taxis to work?
It can help with travel costs if you cannot use public transport because of your condition. It depends on your circumstances and the assessment.
Can I get Access to Work if I work from home?
Yes. Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time.
How often do I need to renew?
Your decision letter says when your grant ends. If it pays for ongoing support, you can apply to renew 12 weeks before the end date.
Sources and further reading
- GOV.UK: Access to Work – get support if you have a disability or health condition
- GOV.UK: Access to Work eligibility
- GOV.UK: Reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities or health conditions
- GOV.UK: Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010
- GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment
- nidirect: Access to Work (NI) – practical help at work
Educational information for people in the United Kingdom — not legal, financial or personal medical advice. Benefit rules and rates change, so always check GOV.UK (or mygov.scot / nidirect) and get free advice before you act. Charity no. 1218461. Pending clinical and editorial review. Everyone's situation is different, so always follow the advice of your own GP, pharmacist or rheumatology team. If you feel very unwell, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent advice, contact NHS 111.
Continue with related help
- Access to Work at a glance — quick summary
- Benefits and PIP hub — money and support
- Disability benefits FAQ — common questions
- Carer's Allowance — help for people who care for you
- Newly diagnosed — first steps
- Pain relief guide — managing pain at work