Work and sight loss: Access to Work and your rights
The Access to Work grant for equipment, support workers and travel, what counts as a reasonable adjustment, and how to talk to an employer.
Access to Work
Access to Work is a government scheme which helps you get or stay in work with a health condition or disability. You can apply for a grant towards practical support, help with managing your mental health at work, and money for communication support at interviews. The grant does not affect your other benefits and you do not pay it back. You or your employer may need to pay some costs first and claim them back.
What it pays for
- Specialist equipment and assistive software, such as screen readers, magnification software and video magnifiers.
- Support workers, including a job coach or a travel buddy.
- The cost of travelling to work if you cannot use public transport.
- Adaptations to your vehicle.
- Physical changes to your workplace. Your workplace can include your home if you work there some or all of the time.
Reasonable adjustments
Under the Equality Act 2010, which applies in England, Scotland and Wales, employers must make reasonable adjustments for a disabled worker or applicant. Sight loss which has a substantial, long-term effect on daily life counts. Adjustments include larger screens, software, more time for tasks, changes to lighting, a different desk position or flexible hours. Northern Ireland has the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 with similar duties.
Talking to your employer
Decide what to say and when. You do not have to share a diagnosis, but describing what you need usually gets a quicker result than describing the condition. Put the request in writing and keep a copy. An occupational health referral or an Access to Work assessment gives you a written list of adjustments to work from.
Looking for work
Jobcentre Plus work coaches can refer you to a Disability Employment Adviser. The Thomas Pocklington Trust and RNIB run employment programmes for people with sight loss. Access to Work can fund support at interviews.
Charities with employment programmes Settings which make screens easier to useCommon questions
Do I have to pay an Access to Work grant back?
No. It does not affect your other benefits either. You or your employer may need to pay some costs first and claim them back.
Does Access to Work cover working from home?
Yes. Your workplace can include your home if you work there some or all of the time.
Do I have to tell my employer my diagnosis?
No. Describing what you need usually gets a quicker result than naming the condition. Put the request in writing and keep a copy.
Sources
Checked 4 October 2026. Official pages change, so follow the NHS page for the current position.
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- The Omnirx.io team, from the NHS pages above
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Glanced (2026) Work and sight loss: Access to Work and your rights. Omnirx.io team for Medstack Ltd. Available at: https://www.glanced.co.uk/nhs/work/ (Accessed: ).
Educational information, not medical advice. Your own eye-care team's advice comes first.