Funding, support and workplace action
Access to Work and Reasonable Adjustments
Access to Work can help with disability-related workplace support, but it does not replace an employer’s responsibility to make reasonable adjustments where required. Organisations still need clear records, ownership and follow-through.
Keep the distinction clear
Funding support and adjustment management are connected, but not the same.
Keep the distinction clear
Funding support and adjustment management are connected, but not the same.
What Access to Work is
Access to Work supports eligible people who live and work in England, Scotland or Wales. Northern Ireland has a separate service. It can help with additional disability-related support in work or when starting work.
It may help with practical support such as equipment, support workers, travel or communication support, depending on the person’s circumstances and current scheme rules.
How it relates to reasonable adjustments
Access to Work and reasonable adjustments are connected, but they are not the same thing.
Access to Work
A government support scheme that may help with practical costs or support.
Reasonable adjustments
Changes employers must consider to remove or reduce disability-related barriers.
The overlap
Access to Work may support some practical solutions, but employers still need to manage requests, decisions and workplace implementation.
Where confusion happens
Waiting for Access to Work before acting
The employer’s duty to make reasonable adjustments continues while an Access to Work application is being considered.
Treating funding as the whole process
Funding support does not manage ownership, implementation or review.
Losing the support record
Reports, emails and recommendations can become scattered.
Missing review points
Support may need to change as the role, equipment or circumstances change.
What to record
Keeping clear records ensures support is consistent and follow-through is managed.
Access needs
What barriers or support needs have been identified.
Suggested support
What equipment, service or adjustment may help.
Employer action
What the organisation needs to do.
Access to Work status
Whether an application, recommendation or award is relevant.
Ownership
Who owns each next step.
Review date
When support should be revisited.
Health adjustment passport connection
Some people searching Access to Work also search for health adjustment passport information.
A health adjustment passport can help someone think through support needs before work or when moving jobs. AXS Passport is different: it is a digital accessibility and inclusion passport designed to help organisations manage access needs and workplace adjustments over time.
How AXS Passport helps
AXS Passport helps connect support information to workplace action.
Access profile
People can describe relevant access needs and preferences.
Adjustment requests
Workplace support can be requested, reviewed and managed.
Records and ownership
Recommendations, actions and next steps can be easier to maintain.
Review
Support can be checked as roles, equipment or needs change.
Turn support information into action
AXS Passport helps organisations manage access needs, adjustment requests, records and review alongside wider workplace support.