Access to Work for the Self-Employed Guide
Access to Work is a UK government grant scheme which offers practical and financial support for people who are employed or self-employed, with disabilities or physical/mental health conditions, including ADHD, dyslexia, ASD, anxiety and depression.
It’s thought that around 15-20% of the UK population is neurodivergent, with that figure increasing in the self-employed sector. If you’re reading this, you probably fall into that category and are intrigued to find out more about the Access to Work scheme and how it could apply to you as a self-employed business owner.
This support can include specialised equipment, coaching, and other resources to help you overcome any challenges you face in running your self-employed business.
As a certified coach specialising in neurominorities, I offer ADHD and neuro coaching support that can be funded through the Access to Work scheme. This article will explain how Access to Work can benefit you as a self-employed business owner and how coaching through the scheme can enhance your success.
The perks of being self-employed
As a self-employed business owner, you get to choose what work looks like. You’ve got the freedom (within reason!) to structure your working life to suit your unique needs. And that’s often one of the main reasons many of my access-to-work coaching clients decide to become self-employed.
They chose this self-employed path because:
You can work when you want – Whether your focus is better in the evening or at 4 am (yup - that’s me, and it totally suits my energy levels), night owl or early bird - you get to choose! You aren’t restricted to the 9-5, and you find you’re way more effective and efficient when you work this way.
You can work where you want – Being self-employed means you work from your home office, bed, lounge or garden. You can move and rotate locations to flex with your needs. (Huge self-employment perk!)
You can wear what you want – If the usual ‘corporate’ attire sends you into a sensory overload and joggers and tees fill you with joy, it’s an easy choice to make when you’re self-employed!
Rejection sensitivities could be lessened – Okay, so you do have your clients and customers to think about. Still, with no boss around, there are fewer opportunities for those rejection sensitivities to creep in.
You can take as MANY breaks as you need – No need to ask for time off. When self-employed, you can take a sick day whenever you like (which is useful to avoid neurodivergent burnout) and spend as much time as you need in the garden or out in nature between appointments and work blocks. The only person’s permission you need is your own.
This all sounds great, right? Well, yes. But…it’s never that straightforward, is it?
Being self-employed and neurominority challenges
Like many of the neurominority clients I coach, I’m guessing you may come across different challenges as a self-employed neurodivergent individual..
We’re talking about things like:
Focus – How do you maintain focus and stick to deadlines when the only person to report back to is you? How do you manage to actually get stuff finished if your neurodiverse brain leans more towards creativity, new projects and ideas, meaning that it’s easy to lose focus on the things that need to be done now?
Overwhelm – Beling self-employed and running your own business brings freedom, but it can also bring pressure because the success of the business rests with you. Being neurodivergent can exacerbate those feelings of overwhelm and cause you to spiral into excessive overthinking.
Time Management – Managing your time effectively can be a challenge, especially when balancing multiple projects. How do you prioritise tasks and make sure you're allocating enough time to each aspect of your business?
Isolation – The peace of working alone can be amazing, but too much solo time may not be a good thing for everyone - possibly leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. How do you maintain social interactions and build a support network when you’re self-employed and don't have coworkers?
Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) – You may not have a management team to report back to, but you do have clients. Do you find your RSD (the tendency to take feedback negatively, even if it wasn’t meant that way) triggered when it’s handover day for a project or when you receive client feedback?
As an ADHD and neurodivergent coach specialising in supporting neurominorities with disabilities or physical/mental health conditions, including ADHD, dyslexia, ASD, anxiety and depression, it’s my job to help you work through all of the above (and more). I’ll give you tools and resources to focus and empower you so you can feel more regulated and at ease in your self employed business.
But how does any of this relate to Access to Work?
Access to Work for self-employed neurominorities
My self-employed clients are often surprised to discover they can access a coach like me, fully paid for through the Access to Work scheme.
Access to Work is a UK government initiative where anyone with a disability or physical or mental health condition (including ADHD, ASD, dyslexia, anxiety, depression and more) can receive support and funding to help them get back into or stay in work. That ‘work’ includes self-employment!
Unlike a loan, Access to Work operates on a grant basis, meaning it’s either fully or partially funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and doesn’t need to be paid back.
The scheme has some eligibility requirements, which you can find more details on here at the UK government website.
Access to Work support for those who are self-employed can include coaching sessions with a neuroinclusive coach like me, where we’ll explore tools and strategies to help you cut through the noise, focus on your business (and personal) goals and overcome the specific self-employed challenges that you’re facing.
Access to Work calls this support ‘job coaching’ and might even refer to it on your paperwork as ‘coping strategies.’
But that’s not all. Depending on your unique circumstances, you could also receive support/assistance from Access to Work with things like:
Software, hardware or office equipment, for example, a height-adjustable desk so you can add movement as needed and work in a way that supports your brain.
Read-aloud or dictation software to help with accessibility and processing information in a way that works for you.
Digital notebooks/planners to help you stay focused and organised if you often find yourself surrounded by piles of notes and paperwork.
Noise-cancelling headphones for a loud and busy environment or if you find certain types of noise distracting or overwhelming, making it hard to concentrate on work.
A Virtual Assistant (VA) to help you keep on top of the endless admin in your business and stay organised in your work.
Long story short, if it’s something that makes your work more accessible, then you might be able to get funding via Access to Work, even as a self-employed person.
The benefits of being self-employed and working with a job coach like me through Access to Work
If you want to learn new strategies and skills to overcome some of the challenges I mentioned above, build new habits, and smash through the obstacles you feel are stopping you from progressing your self-employed business, then that’s what I’m here for!
I’m not here to help you scale your business, make you more money or help you with your marketing. (Sorry!) I’m here for YOU.
Here are some of the things we can cover in my access to work coaching sessions:
Planning & Organisation: Improving skills in goal-setting, time management, and organisation so you can plan your work days flexibly and get more of the right things done.
Focus: Exploring ways to boost your concentration and ditch procrastination or hyperfocus burnout, helping you stay on track with essential tasks and meet client deadlines without feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
Memory: Tips and advice to support memory and cognitive flexibility so you can capture and process information in a way that works for you for better decision-making and problem-solving in your business.
Communication: Working on strategies for clear and concise communication, reducing misunderstandings with clients and collaborators and promoting effective and positive interactions.
Self-awareness: Supporting you in gaining a deeper understanding of your strengths, limitations, and impact on others, for better-informed decisions, stronger client relationships, and greater satisfaction in your work and personal life.
Mental flexibility: Giving you the tools to navigate complex situations more easily, make informed business decisions, and achieve your goals confidently and effectively.
Leadership: Developing skills like setting clear business goals, delegating tasks, providing feedback, managing conflicts, and creating a positive work environment for yourself and any team members or collaborators.
Access to work for self-employed - next steps
You can access coaching with me privately or through Access to Work funding. (A heads up - once you’ve applied, Access to Work can take some time to come through, so don’t be disheartened if you don’t hear back immediately.)
To start the process, complete the online application form here. Access to Work won’t backdate payments for any coaching you’ve already had, but they may cover future sessions once the funding has been awarded.
You might be at the point where you feel coaching would help you right now, or you may want to wait for your Access to Work application to be processed. Whichever stage you’re at, I’m always happy to have a call so please feel free to get in touch about how I can help.
You can book a discovery call here or get in touch using my contact form here.
You can also check out the other articles in my Access to Work series here:
Access to Work: Practical Support for Neurominorities in the Workplace
Frequently Asked Questions
Can self-employed people get Access to Work funding?
Yep! Access to Work isn't only for employees. If you're self-employed and meet the scheme's eligibility requirements, you may be able to receive funding for practical support that helps you at work.
Can I get Access to Work if I have ADHD and I'm self-employed?
Potentially, yes. ADHD can be covered by Access to Work if it affects your ability to run your business. The support you're offered will depend on your individual needs and experiences at work.
What can Access to Work pay for if I'm self-employed?
The support offered is based on your individual circumstances so it’s different for everyone. There isn’t a checklist. It could include specialist equipment, assistive software, practical support or job coaching. For neurodivergent business owners, this might include support with areas such as focus, organisation, time management, communication and managing overwhelm.
Can Access to Work pay for ADHD or neurodivergent coaching?
Access to Work may fund specialist job coaching where it considers it appropriate for your needs. This can include coaching for neurodivergent people who need additional support while running their business.
What does an Access to Work job coach help with?
Job coaching isn't business coaching. It’s not about growing your business, marketing or increasing your income; the coaching focuses on helping you work effectively and sustainably. Sessions might cover planning, organisation, focus, procrastination, communication, memory, self-awareness and strategies for managing your workload.
Do I need a formal diagnosis to apply for Access to Work?
You don't necessarily need to have a formally diagnosed condition to apply for Access to Work. But you will need to explain how your disability or health condition affects you at work, and Access to Work will likely ask for further information as part of your application.
Does Access to Work have to be paid back?
Access to Work is a grant rather than a loan, so funding you’re awarded doesn't usually need to be paid back.
Can Access to Work fund equipment for my home office?
It might contribute towards specialist equipment or adaptations where these are needed because of your disability or health condition. This could potentially include ergonomic equipment, assistive technology or other tools that make it easier for you to work.
Can Access to Work pay for a Virtual Assistant?
In some circumstances, Access to Work can fund practical support from another person where this is necessary to help you do your job. Whether this could include support from a Virtual Assistant will depend on your individual needs and what Access to Work agrees to fund.
How long does an Access to Work application take?
Processing times can vary; it’s not unheard of for it to take months, so it's worth applying as early as possible if you think you could benefit from support. Once you've applied, Access to Work will assess your circumstances and have a chat about what support you might need.
Will Access to Work pay for coaching I've already had?
Access to Work generally won't fund support retrospectively, so any coaching you’ve already had won’t be reimbursed. If you're hoping to use Access to Work funding for coaching, it's best to wait until the relevant support has been agreed before relying on the grant to cover the cost.
How do I apply for Access to Work if I'm self-employed?
You can apply for Access to Work through the UK Government website. You'll be asked to fill in a form and talk about your work, your disability or health condition and how it affects you while working.
Can I start neurodivergent coaching while I wait for Access to Work?
Yes, absolutely, you can choose to pay for coaching privately while you're waiting for your application to be processed. But remember that Access to Work won’t reimburse you retrospectively for sessions you've already paid for. You can also choose to wait until your funding has been approved before starting coaching.
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About the author
I'm Victoria Tretis, and I'm an ICF-certified coach with over 800 hours of coaching neurodivergent adults, including those with ADHD, ASD, dyslexia, anxiety, depression and more, who feel stuck and overwhelmed in the chaos of daily life. They want to design and achieve their version of success. (I don't believe there is one right way to accomplish this.)
I also work with line managers who want to strengthen the support they provide within neurodiverse teams.
My work is not about rich people getting richer. Instead, coaching sessions are centred around clients wanting to better understand themselves and those around them.