Help applying for Access to Work
Getting ready to apply for Access to Work, partway through an application or unsure what to do after a refusal? We can help you work through the process and explain the practical support you need. Reinforce Potential also provides support workers and assistants for the tasks that get difficult in your working day.
Work out what a support worker would help you do
Which part of your day gets stuck? You might know what needs doing but struggle to choose where to start, lose track of actions after meetings or leave emails unfinished. Those are the kinds of difficulties a support worker can help you work through.
Not sure what support would help? We can listen to how your work goes and what gets difficult, and help you work out a support plan.
Help before and during your application
You don’t have to wait until you’re stuck to contact us. We can help before you apply or while the application is underway. We’ll talk through the stage you’ve reached, the help you need and any charges for our assistance.
The government service decides eligibility and funding. You can read its eligibility guidance and how to apply. Our role is to help you with the process and discuss the support you need.
Useful notes to prepare
- Your role and usual working pattern
- The tasks that become difficult and when
- The impact on getting the work done
- Support you’ve tried and what helped
- The practical help you want to discuss
You don’t need a diagnosis to ask us for help. If you have, or think you may have, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia or another neurodivergent condition, start with the work you find difficult and the practical help you need. Access to Work has its own eligibility rules.
If you've already applied
If you’ve started the application, you can still come to us for help. Keep your reference and messages about the next step to hand. Let us know if your job or support needs have changed; updates to the application itself go through the government service.
If you've been refused support
You can ask us for help after a refusal. In some cases, we can help you understand the decision and consider what to do next. We’ll discuss whether we can help in your circumstances; a different funding outcome can’t be guaranteed.
Exploring support while you wait
While you wait, we can talk about the work you’d like help with and how you’d like to work with someone. That gives us a starting point for arranging a worker if funding is approved. We’ll check the award and availability before funded support begins.
How would you like to work together?
Perhaps a regular planning session would help, or you’d like someone alongside you while you tackle a difficult task. Think about when support would be useful and what you want to get done. You can discuss those preferences with us while the application is being considered.
If you’re awarded funding, here’s how we can help you get started with a worker.
Considering paying for support yourself?
If you’d like support while you wait, you can ask about paying privately for a support worker. We’ll explain the proposed work, hours, charges and terms so you can decide whether it’s right for you.
Budget for private support as your own cost. A future award may cover different work or costs and doesn’t automatically reimburse what you’ve already paid.
If you already have some funding
Use what to do when the award doesn’t cover everything to discuss approved support and needs outside it separately. For an award approaching its end, use renewals.
Ask for help with your application
Are you preparing to apply, already in the process or asking about a refusal? Choose the application option and give us a brief outline.
Choose the application enquiry option on the contact form, including if you want to ask about a refusal.