Access to Work for ADHD Self-Employed Funding: £15,931 Story
- Stella Billerey
- Jun 7
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 9
I received £15,931.59 through Access to Work for ADHD self-employed funding in the UK. It covers my support worker, my ADHD coaching, and assistive technology. And I want to walk you through exactly how I got it (including the mistakes, the chaos, and the bits nobody tells you).
If you have ADHD and are self-employed, you may be eligible for Access to Work for ADHD self-employed funding. This can include significant government support to help you do your work — potentially thousands of pounds, not a small amount.
What Is Access to Work for ADHD (Self-Employed)?
I'm going to be honest with you: applying for Access to Work is a faff.
It involves forms, deadlines, tax returns, phone calls with caseworkers, and enough waiting around to test the patience of anyone — let alone someone whose brain is wired for instant gratification rather than long-term rewards.
And I'm also going to tell you this: it is absolutely, completely, unreservedly worth it.
I received £15,931.59 in Access to Work funding. I now have a funded support worker, funded ADHD coaching, and funded assistive technology. And the thing I think about most is this: I wish I had done it sooner. Because in the time I spent not applying, I paid £3,242 out of my own pocket for support I was entitled to have funded.
That number stings a little. But it also motivates me to make sure you don't do the same.
So here's everything you need to know — honestly, practically, and without the bits that will make you close the tab.
The Application (Or: How I Applied and Then Completely Forgot About It)
I made my application on 24th July 2024. The online form itself wasn't awful. For a neurotypical person it might take 20 minutes. For me, with ADHD and dyslexia, it took closer to 1.5 hours. But it was manageable.
I submitted it, I heard nothing for months and assumed I must have made an error somewhere, and got on with my life.
Classic ADHD.
It wasn't until Monday 24th November 2025 — over a year later — that I was contacted by my allocated caseworker. They were warm, professional, and talked me through my options: I could claim as an employed person or as a self-employed person, and there were pros and cons to both. I had a lot going on at the time, so I dragged my feet getting back to them.
(If you're reading this and recognising yourself: you're not alone. But do try to respond faster than I did.)
The Tax Return Situ (A Love Story Between ADHD and Deadlines)
As a self-employed applicant, I was required to provide my self-assessment tax return. This was December 2025. The deadline for the self-employed tax return is 31st January — and, true to form, I hadn't submitted mine yet.
My caseworker gave me a deadline to submit my financial paperwork by the 5th January.
Due to my dyslexia, I read this as the 15th January. I submitted everything on the 6th feeling extremely pleased with myself for getting it in early.
I wasn't early.
To make things more complicated, my father was hospitalised during this period and I am one of his carers. I shared the relevant documentation with my caseworker, who was humane about it. They had already sent discharge paperwork — but they contacted me, rescinded it, and gave me the chance to continue.
The lesson here: disclose what's going on in your life. Caring responsibilities, mental health, significant life events, tell them. The people working on your case are more human than the process might suggest.
And er.... if you can get someone who can read / pay attention to double check your deadlines. It's an easy mistake to make but could have been costly for me
The Caseworker Call — Go In Prepared
My phone call with my caseworker was on 21st January 2026. This is the meeting that matters most, and I want to be very clear: go in prepared.
I wrote a summary of my barriers, my current work activity, and a specific list of what I was asking for before the call. I knew what I needed and I asked for it directly:
A support worker — 3 hours per week (I was already funding this privately)
ADHD coaching
Grammarly (assistive technology for dyslexia)
Anything that could be interpreted as growing your business will likely not be granted — AI mobile editing tools, content creation software, that kind of thing. Keep requests focused on overcoming disability-related barriers to doing your existing work.
During this call, my caseworker offered me the option of a workplace assessment. I said yes.
Always say yes to the workplace assessment.
The Workplace Assessment — The Bit That Changes Everything
I didn't know exactly what technical support I needed going into this process. The workplace assessment is what helped me figure it out — and it's what helped me maximise my funding.
Once I accepted the referral, I was contacted by Reed in Partnership.
Here is the most important thing I can tell you about this stage:
When they contact you, respond immediately.
The contact may come via SMS, phone (possibly from a withheld number), or email.
If you miss the call, ring back straight away.
The referral will be cancelled if they cannot book you in within two working days.
You have a maximum of five appointment times — be as flexible as you possibly can.
I also had to complete a Support Worker Record of Tasks template and post it back. This needs to contain as much detail as possible about your day-to-day tasks and where your disability creates barriers.
I will not pretend this is an easy ask for a neurodivergent person.
But I did it! Yay! And it was worth it.
My workplace assessment took place on Teams on 29th January 2026. The assessor was warm, knowledgeable, and listened. I came away feeling heard rather than processed.
What I Got — And What I'd Do Differently
On 20th February 2026, I was awarded £15,931.59 in Access to Work funding.
Here is the mistake I really don't want you to repeat: I uploaded the wrong photo ID. Because of this, I could not claim my money back through the online portal. Everything had to be submitted on paper. Every single claim. Posted. By hand.
Learn from me. Double-check your ID upload before you submit.
What You Can Claim For
Support workers (including virtual assistants)
ADHD coaching
Assistive technology (Grammarly, dictation software, etc.)
Workplace adaptations
What it will (most likely) not fund:
Anything that looks like growing your business (AI content tools, marketing software, etc.)
Thinking About Applying?
The process is navigable — but it is a lot to hold as a neurodivergent person. I now support clients through the Access to Work process as part of ADHD coaching or as a standalone service. Book a free 30-minute discovery call to talk it through. Don't snooze babe.
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