What is Access to Work? Access to Work is a UK Government grant scheme that funds practical support for disabled people in employment. It can pay for assistive equipment, support workers, travel costs and other adjustments. It applies to employees, the self-employed, and people starting a new job.

How iHear helps:

For individuals: We guide you through the Access to Work application process what to apply for, what evidence you'll need, and what equipment to request. Once the grant is approved, we supply, install and configure your equipment and provide aftercare.

For employers and HR teams: We can carry out a workplace assessment for a Deaf or hard of hearing employee, produce a report that satisfies Access to Work requirements, and supply and install the recommended equipment. We also advise on reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act.

Equipment commonly funded through Access to Work:

• Remote microphone systems (Roger, Phonak, Oticon)
• Bluetooth streamers and hearing aid accessories
• Amplified or captioned phones
• Visual alerting systems
• Specialist communication technology

"What if my employee doesn't have hearing aids?" Access to Work can fund equipment for people with any level of hearing loss, with or without hearing aids. The key is demonstrating that the employee is disadvantaged without support.

"How long does the process take?" Applications can take several weeks to process. We can help you prioritise what's needed urgently while the application is in progress.

"Can iHear help if we're in a different part of the UK?" Yes. We work nationally, including remote consultations and assessments, and can arrange installation through our Local Partner network.