If you have a disability or health condition that makes some parts of running your business more difficult, you may be able to get support through the government’s Access to Work scheme. If you're self-employed, that support can potentially include help from a support worker with some of the practical tasks involved in doing your job.
For some of my clients, that support is me.
I already work with clients who use Access to Work funding for Virtual Assistant support, so I'm familiar with working within an Access to Work award and providing the admin and invoices needed for claims.
What is Access to Work?
Access to Work is a government scheme designed to help people with a disability, illness or health condition get or stay in work.
The support available depends on your individual needs, but an Access to Work grant can contribute towards practical support such as specialist equipment, assistive software, support workers and certain travel costs.
Importantly for small business owners, Access to Work isn't only for employees. Self-employed people can also be eligible.
At the time of writing, GOV.UK states that self-employed applicants need an annual turnover of at least £6,500.
Do I need a formal diagnosis?
Not necessarily.
Current Access to Work guidance says that you don't need to have a diagnosed condition to apply.
You do, however, need to have a disability, illness or health condition that means you need support to do your job.
GOV.UK gives examples including ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety, depression, physical disabilities and long-term or temporary health conditions.
Your application is about how your condition affects you at work and the support you need, rather than simply having a particular diagnosis.
Can Access to Work pay for a Virtual Assistant?
Access to Work grants can fund support workers where this type of support is approved as part of your award.
The exact support you're awarded will depend on your circumstances and the barriers you experience at work, so it's important not to assume that a particular number of VA hours or type of support will automatically be funded.
If Virtual Assistant or support-worker hours are included in your award, I can work with you to provide the practical support that's been agreed.
What can I help with?
The support I provide is tailored to the individual client and their business, but this might include things such as:
- managing and organising emails
- client administration
- appointment and booking admin
- invoicing and other routine business admin
- updating websites
- newsletters
- organising information and systems
- social media support
- helping keep on top of recurring tasks
- working through the miscellaneous jobs that otherwise keep getting pushed down the list
And you don't need to arrive with a perfectly organised system for working with me.
A big part of my job is getting to know how you work, understanding where you're getting stuck and helping turn “I know this needs doing” into something that actually gets done.
How do you apply for Access to Work?
You can apply for Access to Work online or by phone.
As part of the application, you'll be asked for information about your work, how your disability or health condition affects you at work and what support you think you need.
If you're self-employed, you'll also need to provide your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR).
After you apply, Access to Work may contact you for more information or arrange an assessment. You'll then receive a decision explaining what support has been approved and how much funding is available.
Because awards are based on individual circumstances, I always recommend checking the current government guidance rather than relying on someone else's Access to Work award as an indication of what you'll receive.
How does claiming for VA support work?
Once you have an approved award, your decision letter will explain what your grant covers.
GOV.UK currently allows Access to Work claims to be made online or by post. Claims can require information including the dates support was provided, invoices or receipts and bank details for whoever will receive the payment.
The exact arrangements can depend on your award, so your Access to Work decision letter should always be your starting point.
If I'm providing your approved support, I'll provide the appropriate invoices for the work I've completed.
Already have Access to Work funding for VA support?
If you've already been awarded Access to Work funding that includes support-worker or Virtual Assistant hours and you're looking for someone to provide that support, we can have a chat.
I already support Access to Work clients, so you won't need to explain the whole scheme to me from scratch.
My approach is practical, flexible and judgement-free. You can tell me what's difficult, what's getting stuck or what you need help keeping on top of, and we'll work from there.
Get in touch and we can have a very normal, no-pressure conversation about the support you've been awarded and whether we'd work well together.
