Have ADHD? Get a grant to pay for FLOWN
Everything you need to know about the UK government’s Access To Work Grant – what it’s for, how to apply, and how you can use it to save money on your FLOWN membership.
By Zoe Wilson
•
Sep 30, 2022
As you’re probably aware if you landed on this page, ADHD can have a profound effect on working life. Many FLOWN members have found FLOWN to be valuable for ADHD symptoms that affect all aspects of their life.
Flown offers a 30-day free trial, and there are additional financial aid options for those who need it after the trial ends. The UK government offers a grant – the Access To Work grant – which can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.
What is the Access To Work Grant?
The Access To Work Grant is a grant to help pay for practical, mental health, or communication support with your work for those with physical or mental health conditions or disabilities.
The support you get will depend on your personal needs. There are additional options through the government program - such as support with managing your mental health at work or money to pay for communication support at job interviews.
Some potential mental health support that the grant can be used for could include a tailored plan to help you get or stay in work or one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional.
FLOWN also qualifies as an eligible expense for those who need support managing their mental health at work.
Who is eligible?
ADHD is a legitimate mental health condition. You are eligible for the grant if you have any disability, illness or health condition that means you require support to do your job.
Things to keep in mind:
Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time.
It doesn’t matter how much you earn. If you get an Access to Work grant, it won’t affect any other benefits you get and you won’t have to pay it back.
You do not need to be diagnosed with a condition to apply for mental health support – you will only need to give evidence of your condition if you’re applying for help with transport costs.
Other conditions that qualify for support through the grant include:
A physical disability, for example if you’re hard of hearing or use a wheelchair
A learning disability or related condition, for example if you have Down’s syndrome
A developmental condition, like autism spectrum disorder
Learning difficulties or differences like dyslexia
An illness such as diabetes or epilepsy
A temporary condition, like a broken leg
A mental health condition, for example anxiety or depression
🗨️ The takeaway
If you live in England, Wales or Scotland and have ADHD, you can apply for a grant from the government to cover the cost of a FLOWN membership.
How can I apply?
The application process is very simple and highly accessible. You can apply for the Access to Work grant (or support other than financial aid) online or by phone.
You’ll need to give:
Your contact details
Your workplace address and postcode
The name of a workplace contact who can confirm you work there (they will not be contacted without your permission)
The email address or work phone number of your workplace contact
Your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number (if you’re self-employed)
Information about how your condition affects your work and what support you think you need
The Access to Work grant application
Bear in mind that civil servants aren’t eligible, and Northern Ireland has a different system.
The full eligibility list is here.
The simplest way is to apply online.
We’ll now run through the questions you’ll need to answer in your application to make it super easy for you to fill out.
Are you a civil servant? (1/11)
If so, you aren’t eligible, but you can approach your manager for the support you need.
What are your conditions or disabilities? (2/11)
Here’s where you mention your ADHD.
Do you want some help to get to work? (3/11)
This is about travel – you may or may not need help here.
Does your condition make it harder for you to do your job? (4/11)
This is where you can talk about the challenges you face as an ADHDer in your profession.
The ‘Tell us how it is harder’ box:
✍️ What you could write
My ADHD means I have a hard time focusing, concentrating and staying on task. [Elaborate here on your specific difficulties and how it impacts your work]
Then it’ll ask you if you do anything at the moment to get around your problems.
Finally on this screen, you can fill out your answer to ‘Do you know what you need to help you with this?’
This is where FLOWN comes in!
✍️ What you could write
FLOWN – a subscription to this virtual body doubling tool helps me stay focused and productive and directly improves my ADHD.
For additional support, you can also refer to the specialist 1:1 support available through working with a .
Your employment status (5/11)
This is an easy one. Check the circle that applies to you.
Where you work (6/11)
Fill out your employment details.
How long have you been in your current job or role? (7/11)
Fill out your start date.
Your workplace contact (8/11)
This is the person at your place of work who can authorize payments for the items (such as FLOWN) in your support offer.
About you (9/11)
This page is a simple form where you fill out your personal details.
Application type (10/11)
Click the circle next to ‘Access to Work’.
Who do you want to be contacted about your condition, award or application? (11/11)
Options are either yourself (through phone or email) or someone else who can speak for you – for people who need help with the application or communication skills.
That’s it!
You’ll be asked to check your answers on a final screen, and submit your application.
How is my application processed (and how can I get paid)?
After you apply for the grant, someone from Access to Work will contact you to talk about your application.
The person who contacts you may ask for more information about your work and condition and for permission to speak to your employer.
They may also want to arrange for an assessor to call you or view your workplace by video call or in person – to find out what changes might help.
You’ll get a letter with a decision and explanation. It will tell you how much your grant will be and what it should pay for.
Your decision letter will explain how to claim the money from your grant – there is no set amount for an Access to Work grant. How much you get depends on your specific case. The grant will cover the support needed to let you stay in work or self-employed.
Claiming for costs
You have 9 months to claim for costs. You or your employer might need to pay for the support you need at first. If so, your letter will tell you how to claim money back. Keep your invoices and receipts as evidence – FLOWN will send you an email invoice.
For some services, Access to Work pays the provider directly. Your decision letter will explain how to set this up.
How long does it take from applying to the grant to getting access to funds?
Access to Work is committed to respond within 5 days from the point of contact, with an average response of 2.5 days. Well over 90% of decisions are made within 12 working days. The funding is available immediately once the decision to award is made (usually within 10-12 days). Note, however, this can vary on a case-by-case basis and can depend on the amount of applications waiting to be processed.
If you start your application today, you could have the funds within a few weeks – if you’re new to FLOWN, your free trial will already cover the first month. So you could take advantage of everything FLOWN has to offer for free.
Final word – good luck!
If you’re looking for help managing your ADHD symptoms and access to a supportive community, look no further than FLOWN. FLOWN uses methods that are scientifically proven to aid those struggling with procrastination, distraction, and other symptoms of ADHD.
With this grant from the government, relief is more accessible than ever.
Access to Work helpline: 0800 121 7479
Read our complete guide to deep work
What is deep work? What are the benefits? How do you do deep work? Find out.
