Access to Work: Government-Funded Hearing Support for the Workplace

If hearing loss is affecting your ability to do your job, the UK government's Access to Work scheme could fund premium hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and communication support - at no cost to you. The grant does not need to be paid back and will not affect any other benefits you receive.

Liverpool Hearing Centre is an experienced Access to Work provider. We help applicants through every stage of the process, from your initial hearing assessment to supplying and fitting the right equipment for your workplace needs.

What Is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a government grant administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It pays for practical adjustments that help people with disabilities or health conditions start, stay in, or return to work.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss, tinnitus, or a balance condition that makes parts of your job difficult, Access to Work can fund equipment and support that goes beyond what the NHS provides and beyond the reasonable adjustments your employer is legally required to make.

The key points:

• It is a grant, not a loan. You do not pay it back.
• It does not affect other benefits you may be receiving.
• The annual cap is currently £69,260 per person - more than enough to cover premium hearing aids and accessories. This level of cost is mostly used to fund BSL interpreters.
• Grants last up to three years and can be renewed.

What Can Access to Work Fund for Hearing Loss?

The grant can cover a wide range of hearing-related workplace support, including:

• Premium hearing aids - privately dispensed devices with advanced speech-in-noise processing, Bluetooth connectivity, and rechargeable technology that are not available through the NHS.
• Remote microphone systems - such as the Phonak Roger range (Roger On, Roger Select, Roger Pen) for meetings, lectures, and group conversations.
• Amplified and captioned telephones - for clearer phone calls at work.
• Streamers and accessories - devices that connect your hearing aids directly to laptops, desktop computers, and conference call systems.
• Alerting equipment - visual or vibrating alerts for fire alarms, doorbells, and phone calls.
• BSL interpreters, lip speakers, and note takers - for meetings, training sessions, and interviews.
• Video relay service support - for telephone communication.
• Workplace assessments - a specialist assessor can visit your workplace to recommend the best equipment and adjustments for your role.

In practice, most hearing loss applicants receive a combination of hearing aids and wireless accessories tailored to the specific listening challenges they face at work - busy offices, conference calls, client meetings, and similar environments.

Hearing Aids: Exceptional Value Through Access to Work

To put the value of hearing aid provision into perspective, government statistics show that the Access to Work scheme spent £90.3 million on deaf and hard of hearing claimants in the year to March 2025 - 28% of the entire budget. The bulk of that expenditure goes towards BSL interpreters, which can cost up to £69,260 per person per year for full-time provision.

A premium pair of hearing aids with a Roger system, phone streamer, and full fitting and aftercare package typically costs between £5,000 and £8,000. That is a one-off purchase that keeps someone performing effectively at work for years. By comparison, the average annual Access to Work payment across all claimants is £4,000.

Hearing aids are, by some distance, one of the most cost-effective interventions in the entire Access to Work scheme. If your hearing loss is making work difficult, this is a funding route well worth exploring.

Who Is Eligible?

You can apply for Access to Work if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You have a hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance condition that affects your ability to do your job. You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply, but it helps to be able to describe your workplace difficulties clearly.
• You are aged 16 or over.
• You are in paid work, or about to start or return to paid work within the next 12 weeks. This includes full-time, part-time, temporary, casual, and self-employed work. It does not cover voluntary work.
• You live and work in England, Scotland, or Wales. Northern Ireland has a separate scheme administered through the Department for Communities.
• If self-employed, your annual turnover must be at least £6,504 (£542 per month) for 2025/2026.

You can apply whether you already have NHS hearing aids or have never worn hearing aids before. The scheme recognises that NHS provision, while helpful, often does not include the advanced features and accessories needed for demanding workplace listening environments.

Important: You should speak to your employer about reasonable adjustments before applying. Access to Work funds support that goes beyond what your employer is legally required to provide.

How Much Does Access to Work Pay?

There is no fixed amount. The grant is tailored to your individual needs.

• If you have been in your job for less than six weeks when you apply, Access to Work will typically pay 100% of the approved costs.
• If you have been in your job for six weeks or more, your employer may need to share some of the costs, depending on the size of the organisation. For employers with fewer than 50 staff, Access to Work can pay 80% of approved costs between a threshold and £10,000. Costs above £10,000 are normally met in full by Access to Work.
• The annual cap is £69,260 per person. Hearing aid and accessory costs rarely approach this figure, so the cap is unlikely to be an issue.

Your employer owns the equipment purchased through Access to Work and is responsible for its maintenance and insurance. If you change jobs, you may be able to transfer the equipment - speak to your Access to Work case manager.

The Application Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Book a Full Hearing Assessment at Liverpool Hearing Centre

Before applying, it is helpful to understand your hearing loss and know what equipment would benefit you in the workplace. Our Full Hearing Assessment costs £100 and includes comprehensive diagnostic audiometry, speech-in-noise testing, and a detailed consultation about your workplace hearing difficulties. This fee is fully refundable if you go on to purchase hearing aids through us - whether funded by Access to Work or privately.

During your assessment, our audiologists will identify the specific listening challenges you face at work and recommend the hearing aids and accessories best suited to your role. This information strengthens your Access to Work application considerably.

Step 2: Apply to Access to Work

You can apply online at GOV.UK or by telephone.

Access to Work Helpline:

• Telephone: 0800 121 7479 (free)
• Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 7479
• BSL video relay service available
• Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

If phone calls are difficult for you, you can request that all communication be handled by email instead.

When you apply, you will need:

• Your National Insurance number
• Details of your employer and a workplace contact (they will not be contacted without your permission)
• Your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) if self-employed
• Information about your hearing condition and how it affects your work

Step 3: Assessment and Award

After you apply, an Access to Work case manager will contact you to discuss your needs. They may arrange a workplace assessment, which can be conducted in person, by telephone, or by video call.

If your application is approved, you will receive an offer of support detailing the grant amount and duration. You or your employer then purchases the approved equipment, and Access to Work reimburses the cost.

Step 4: Equipment Supply and Fitting

Once your grant is confirmed, Liverpool Hearing Centre will supply, fit, and programme your hearing aids and accessories. We provide:

• Detailed hearing aid fitting using real-ear measurement for precise calibration
• Set-up and training for all wireless accessories (remote microphones, streamers, phone connectivity)
• Smartphone app configuration and demonstration
• A written report suitable for your Access to Work records

Step 5: Ongoing Aftercare

Your Access to Work grant covers the equipment, and Liverpool Hearing Centre provides comprehensive aftercare to ensure your devices continue to perform at their best. This includes follow-up adjustments, cleaning, servicing, and troubleshooting for the life of the devices.

Current Processing Times: What to Expect

It is worth knowing that the Access to Work scheme has experienced significant processing delays. In February 2026, the National Audit Office (NAO) published a report confirming that long backlogs in both applications and payments have been causing serious problems for applicants and their employers. RNID (the national hearing loss charity) has also reported that many applicants waited four months or more for a decision on their application.

We mention this not to discourage you from applying - the grant is well worth pursuing - but so you can plan accordingly. If you are about to start a new job, your application will be given priority by DWP. If you are already in work, it is sensible to apply as early as possible.

Liverpool Hearing Centre can help you prepare a strong application to minimise delays. Our detailed audiological reports and equipment recommendations give the Access to Work assessors clear, clinical evidence of your needs.

Access to Work and the Self-Employed

If you run your own business or work freelance, you are eligible for Access to Work provided your annual turnover is at least £6,504 (2025/2026 threshold). You will need to provide your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) when applying.

The grant can cover exactly the same equipment as for employed applicants - hearing aids, remote microphones, amplified phones, and other assistive devices. For self-employed applicants, Access to Work typically covers 100% of the approved costs.

Why Choose Liverpool Hearing Centre for Access to Work?

We are independent, HCPC-registered audiologists with no ties to any single manufacturer. This means we can recommend the best hearing aids and accessories for your workplace needs from every major brand - Phonak, Signia, Oticon, Starkey, Widex, GN ReSound, and Unitron.

Our Access to Work service includes:

• A comprehensive hearing assessment with detailed workplace needs analysis (£100, refundable against hearing aid purchase)
• Expert equipment recommendations based on your specific job role and listening environments
• Full fitting and programming using real-ear verification to ensure accuracy
• Set-up of all accessories including remote microphones, phone streamers, and laptop connectivity
• Detailed clinical reports for your Access to Work application and records
• Lifetime aftercare including adjustments, cleaning, servicing, and software updates
• 5-year warranty on most hearing aids (Platinum Plan)

We are located at 78 Rodney Street, Liverpool - in the city's established medical quarter - and are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Ready to Apply?

If you think Access to Work could help you hear better at work, the best first step is to book a Full Hearing Assessment with us. We will identify exactly what you need and provide the clinical evidence to support your application.

Call us on 0151 676 9608 or book online. Our experienced audiologists will guide you through the entire process - from your first assessment to the final fitting of your Access to Work-funded equipment.

Liverpool Hearing Centre
78 Rodney Street, Liverpool L1 9AR
Tel: 0151 676 9608

References
1. GOV.UK. Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition. Updated 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
2. GOV.UK. Access to Work: factsheet for customers. Updated 16 December 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-factsheet/access-to-work-factsheet-for-customers
3. GOV.UK. Access to Work factsheet for employers. Updated 7 October 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-guide-for-employers/access-to-work-factsheet-for-employers
4. GOV.UK. Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2025. Published October 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/access-to-work-statistics-april-2007-to-march-2025
5. National Audit Office. Access to Work. Published 6 February 2026.
6. RNID. Access to Work: why reform can't wait. Published February 2026. Available at: https://rnid.org.uk/2026/02/access-to-work-why-reform-cant-wait/
7. RNID. Access to Work information and support. Updated December 2025. Available at: https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/benefits/access-to-work/
8. RNID. Access to Work: information for employers. Updated October 2025. Available at: https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/work-job-employment/supporting-deaf-employees-staff-hearing-loss/access-to-work-help-for-employers/
9. Disability Rights UK. Access to Work. Available at: https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/resources/access-work
10. Scope. Access to Work grant scheme. Available at: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/access-to-work-grant-scheme