Access to Work Frequently Asked Questions

This page covers common questions about eligibility, assessments, and how Access to Work funding applies to ongoing bookkeeping, accountancy and admin support for self-employed people.

Am I eligible for Access to Work?

Access to Work for the self-employed is available if you:

Are self-employed and registered with HMRC (for example, you have a UTR number)
Are actively trading and earning income from your business
Have a disability, neurodivergent condition, or long-term health condition that affects your ability to work
Need practical help to reduce barriers in running your business

Eligibility is based on how your condition affects your ability to work, not on labels, diagnoses or severity.

Access to Work looks at whether support would help remove barriers and enable you to work more effectively.

Who do you work with?

I work with self-employed people, including sole traders, freelancers and CIS workers.

Do I need a formal diagnosis to apply?

No. You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply for Access to Work.

You do need to be able to explain how your condition affects your work and what would help reduce those barriers.

Is Access to Work a grant or a loan?

Access to Work is a government grant, not a loan.

If your application is approved, the funding does not need to be repaid, as long as it’s used for the agreed assistance.

The grant is paid to cover specific costs related to your work – such as ongoing support – and does not count as a business loan or personal debt.

What services do you provide through Access to Work?

I provide bookkeeping, accountancy and admin services for self-employed people where these tasks are made harder by a disability, health condition or neurodivergence.

This is ongoing, practical support, rather than advice or one-off guidance.

Do you help with Access to Work applications?

Yes. I help you with the Access to Work application as part of getting support in place.

Do you charge for the application process?

No. I do not charge for helping with the Access to Work application.

What does the Access to Work assessment involve?

Access to Work may arrange an assessment, usually carried out by an independent assessor.

This involves a discussion about your work, how your condition affects day-to-day tasks, and what practical support would help reduce those barriers. It is not a medical assessment, and you are not required to disclose anything beyond what is relevant to your work.

Access to Work applications can take time to process. In some cases, the assessment and decision stage can take several months, and delays are not uncommon. Because of this, it’s usually best to apply as early as possible rather than waiting until things feel unmanageable.

Can you help with equipment, software or travel claims?

Help with equipment, software or travel claims may be included where it is necessary to enable or support the bookkeeping, accountancy or admin work I provide.

I do not offer separate help with equipment or travel claims on their own, and I do not act as a general Access to Work advisor.

Does Access to Work affect my tax or benefits?

Access to Work funding is separate from tax credits and most benefits.

It is intended to remove barriers to work, not replace income. If you have specific concerns, these can be discussed as part of the assessment.

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