How much is the Access to Work grant?
Honest, plain-English answers on what Access to Work actually pays - including the annual cap, how the figure is decided, and what neurodivergent founders typically receive.
This is the question almost everyone asks first, and unfortunately the honest answer is: it depends. Access to Work doesn't publish a price list. Your award is built from what you've described you need at work, what an assessor agrees with, and which categories of support those needs fall into.
What the figure is actually based on
The award is calculated by adding up agreed support items - coaching hours, support worker hours, equipment, software licences, travel costs - at standard hourly rates the DWP sets each year. The total becomes your annual budget.
- ND coaching and strategy support is funded at a set hourly rate, usually for a fixed number of sessions per year.
- Support worker hours (admin help, body doubling, task support) are funded at a lower hourly rate but in larger volumes.
- Equipment and software are usually one-off costs assessed separately.
Is there a maximum?
Yes. There's an annual cap set by DWP that's reviewed each tax year. The cap is high enough that most ND founders don't hit it - it's designed to limit very large support-worker awards. If you're being assessed for a few hours a week of coaching and admin support, you'll be nowhere near it.
What about ADHD specifically?
There isn't an "ADHD amount". Access to Work is needs-based, not diagnosis-based. What matters is being able to describe how your ADHD (or any other ND profile) affects you at work, and what support would help. The diagnosis opens the door; the support list you build is what determines the figure.
How the money reaches you
You don't get a lump sum into your bank account. You pay your support provider, then submit invoices and proof of payment via the Maximus customer portal to be reimbursed. The full step-by-step is in our guide to claiming Access to Work online.
FAQs
How much is the Access to Work grant?
There's no single figure. Access to Work awards are based on what you actually need, not a flat amount. Most ND awards for self-employed founders we see land in the low thousands per year, but it varies widely by role, support type and assessor.
Is there a maximum Access to Work grant?
Yes. From April 2025 the annual cap is set by DWP and changes each tax year. The cap mostly affects very high awards (full-time support workers, specialist equipment); most ND coaching or part-time support awards sit well below it.
How is the Access to Work grant paid?
You pay your support provider first, then claim the money back through the Maximus customer portal by uploading the invoice and proof of payment. Some equipment grants are paid directly to suppliers.
How much is Access to Work for ADHD?
There's no ADHD-specific amount. The award is based on the support you've evidenced you need - typically ND coaching, body doubling, admin support, or a support worker - not on the diagnosis itself.
Related reading
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