How to claim Access to Work online

Name: Kate Keir
Address: GB
Price range: ££

A step-by-step walkthrough of the online claim process - what to upload, what to expect, and how to dodge the admin gotchas that quietly delay payment.

Once your Access to Work award is approved, the money doesn't just appear. You need to claim it back, one period at a time, through your provider's online portal. For most ND founders, that means the Maximus customer portal.

Before your first claim

Save the portal login URL somewhere obvious - bookmarks bar, password manager, whatever you'll actually find.
Decide on a naming convention for your files, e.g. 2026-06 invoice.pdf and 2026-06 payment.pdf.
Make a simple folder per claim period. Future-you will thank present-you.

The five-step claim

Log in to the portal (full walkthrough in our Maximus portal guide).
Open a new claim for the relevant period.
Upload the invoice from your support provider into the invoice slot.
Upload proof of payment (bank statement or remittance) into the evidence slot.
Check the dates and payee names match, then submit.

The admin gotchas that cause delays

Invoice date sits outside the claim period.
Bank statement shows the payment going to a different name than the invoice.
PDF is password-protected or over the portal's file size limit.
Invoice and evidence files get swapped into each other's slot.

How long until you see the money?

Approval can happen within a few days. Payment to your bank account typically takes a few weeks after approval. If something has been sitting much longer than that, a short email chase to your Maximus contact with the claim reference is usually enough to move it along.

FAQs

Where do I claim Access to Work online?

Through the Maximus customer portal if Maximus is your assigned provider. You'll get login details by email after your award is set up.

What documents do I need to upload to claim?

For most claims you need an invoice from your support provider and proof you've paid it (a bank statement screenshot or remittance).

How long does an Access to Work claim take to be paid?

Approval can be quick, but payment to your account typically takes a further few weeks after approval.

What if my claim is rejected?

Most rejections are admin issues - mismatched dates, wrong file in the wrong slot, payee names that don't match. Re-upload with corrections and add a short note explaining.