How to Apply for, Hire and Use an Access to Work Support Worker: A Guide for the Self-Employed and Employed
If you're self-employed or employed and living with a chronic illness, ADHD, autism, or any condition that affects how you work — diagnosed or not — you might be eligible for support through the Access to Work scheme. This government-funded programme offers practical help so you can manage your condition and thrive in your role- whether that’s building your own business or working for someone else.
Aside from coaching, one of the most powerful types of support available is a Support Worker. Together these forms of support can make a real difference. Coaching can help you find and stick with the strategies that work for you — or explore new ones that could work even better. A Support Worker can help you to embed all you learn in coaching.
There is a special value that a Support Worker can bring to your work life and I have a few handy tips to share when it comes to the application and recruitment process — especially if brain fog, overwhelm, or executive dysfunction are regular visitors.
What is Access to Work?
Access to Work is a UK government scheme that helps people with mental or physical health conditions or disabilities stay in work. The support is personalised to you and your situation — it might be equipment, travel costs, or, very often, a human helping hand in the form of a Support Worker. Unlike PIP or DLA, you do not need to provide medical evidence of your condition or need so there is a low burden of proof. This can be helpful if you suffer from overwhelm or exhaustion of constantly having to prove yourself to be needing support in order to get the support!
You can find full government guidance here: Access to Work - GOV.UK
If you’d like more examples of what you can request, especially if you’re living with conditions like ADHD, AuDHD, dyslexia, or chronic fatigue, my blog Unlocking Potential: Access to Work for ADHD, Dyslexia, AuDHD, Autism and CFS/ME goes into this in more detail.
An Access to Work funded support worker can be in-person or virtual support
Who Can Apply?
You’re eligible if you are 16 or over. live in England, Scotland, or Wales. have a condition that affects how you work (this includes fluctuating or invisible conditions!) and are employed, self-employed, or about to start a job or work trial.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to apply — Access to Work recognises that not everyone is in a position to get one. Support is based on what you need, not labels.
Conditions can include (but definitely aren’t limited to):
ADHD
Autism, AuDHD
Anxiety, depression
Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME
Fibromyalgia
Long COVID
Sensory processing differences
PTSD, bipolar, and many more
If you have multiple conditions, it is important to include these in your application. You can also request a reconsideration if your conditions change throughout the time you receive Access to Work.
How to Apply for a Support Worker
Before applying, you can often hit a wall or the anxiety of the application might cause a mental block in terms of your needs. On a day when you are feeling relaxed, you could take a piece of paper and start to explore what challenges you face in your job in comparison to those without your condition. It may help to look up online what the symptoms of your condition are, decide whether it is one that affects you and then include what you could be given that you feel would help you. Write everything down that you think of, no matter how small the struggle may seem.
Please remember that this activity ONLY explores your areas of challenge and not your areas of success or talent. It is natural to feel sad, low and unhappy following the task, so approaching it with a solution-focused approach is helpful, or try to schedule something nice to do afterwards to pick your mood up again if this task gets you feeling down.
Applying can feel like a lot, especially when energy or focus is limited — so here are some friendly pointers to make it easier.
Step-by-step:
Start Online
Head to the Access to Work application portal. You’ll be asked about your job, your condition, and the kind of support you think might help.
Tip: Write your answers in a separate document first, then copy and paste them into the form. That way, if the page refreshes or times out (it happens!), you won’t lose everything.
Another tip: If forms feel stressful or confusing, ask someone you trust to help — friend, partner, support worker, coach — whatever makes it easier on you.Assessment (if needed)
An assessor might get in touch to chat about your work set-up, either virtually or in person. This is nothing to worry about — they’re there to help match you with the right kind of support, not to trip you up.Decision and Funding
If your application’s approved, you’ll get a letter confirming what support you’re entitled to and how it will be funded. If you’re self-employed, they might ask for a bit more info, like a business plan or what a typical week looks like for you.
What Can a Support Worker Help With?
Support Workers (sometimes called Work Aides or Job Aides) are there to support you to do your job in a way that works for your health, energy and brain. This might include:
Managing your workload and daily routines — (Perfect if executive functioning, planning, or time blindness are tricky.)
Keeping you on track — Support with timekeeping, transitions, task-switching, and motivation - especially helpful for ADHD or fatigue-related brain fog.
Note-taking — Supporting you in meetings, on calls, during training, or when your brain is at capacity and allowing you to talk through the actions from the meeting, prompting or supporting with these and diarising the tasks.
Driving and transport assistance — Some Support Workers can act as drivers to take you and your equipment to work sites, meetings, or co-working spaces if public transport or driving yourself isn’t doable. Similarly, you can apply specifically for a driver, which can be helpful if you have a chronic pain flare-up and would otherwise need to take an absence from work.
Physical help — If pain, fatigue, or mobility challenges are part of your day, they can assist with moving items, setting up your workspace, or general physical tasks.
Reading or interpreting information — Helpful for dyslexia, vision challenges, or when processing written info is difficult. Your support worker may have industry specialist knowledge to support with this but even without it, allowing you the space to read aloud your information and process this can be helpful.
Emotional or mental health support — This might be helping you with overwhelm, staying regulated, managing anxiety, or implementing coping strategies. They can also assist you in planning what you would like to take to your coach for further support.
Admin, emails, planning, or accountability — Whether it’s a tidy inbox, an organised calendar, keeping on top of invoicing, or simply having someone to check in with, these small things can be game-changers.
Anything else you feel you would need support with that feels overwhelming or a struggle due to your conditions.
Hiring a Support Worker
Once your award is confirmed, you can start the search.
Access to Work is currently receiving a lot of applications, so decisions are taking longer than usual. But if you apply within the first 6 weeks of a newly employed role, your application is fast-tracked, and your employer doesn’t have to contribute to costs.
You can find Support Workers via:
Freelance platforms
Social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook groups)
Local disability or neurodiversity networks
Word of mouth or peer recommendations
Databases, such as Sycamore
Access to Work will reimburse their agreed costs and can guide you on fair pay rates and how to invoice them.
Top Tip: If you live with Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) or anxiety, the thought of hiring might feel overwhelming. Try a discovery call first — lots of support workers offer these — and don’t be afraid to ask for a short trial period, such as a month, before committing. It’s important you feel safe and supported.
Why Applying For a Support Worker Might Be a Great Time Investment
They’re not just an extra pair of hands — they’re someone who helps you work in a way that feels possible. They can be a vital part of your working experience, such as being a cheerleader! You may find that you are better organised, building routines, managing your time and reducing decision fatigue. Offloading tasks to your support worker, particularly those which you know drain you, can allow you time to do the things that light you up.
For self-employed folks, a reliable support worker can help you grow your business without sacrificing your health and just knowing someone’s in your corner can ease the mental load in huge ways.
Access to Work support can be transformative. For employed folks, it helps you show up for your job with confidence. For self-employed folks, it gives you the foundation to build a sustainable, thriving business.
You deserve support. You deserve to work in a way that honours your health and how your brain works. And you don’t have to do it all alone.
If you’d like to talk through your application or how to make the most of your support worker funding, I’d love to help. Coaching can be a great way to explore what support you need and how to use it to your full potential. You’re not alone — and you don’t have to do it all yourself.
Please Note:
This website is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition before making changes. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
