AtW and BSL interpreter rates: what you need to know
AtW has changed how it decides the cost of support workers, including BSL interpreters. Case managers no longer always ask customers for three written quotes. Instead, they use regional cost bandings to set a rate.
This change is reflected in the AtW Staff Guide. In many cases it will make the process simpler. But for some deaf people, the regional banding may not reflect what their support actually costs.
Why this could be a problem for you
BSL interpreter rates vary across the country. The regional banding for your area may be lower than the rates interpreters in your area actually charge.
You may also work across more than one region. If you regularly travel for work, the banding for your home region may not cover the rates charged by interpreters where you work.
And some deaf people need interpreters with specialist experience. If your job involves legal, medical, technical or other specialist work, you may need interpreters with additional skills and experience. Those interpreters often charge slightly higher rates, to reflect this.
If your case manager applies the regional banding without discussion, your award may not cover the interpreting support you actually need.
What the guidance says
The AtW Staff Guide is clear that the regional banding is a guide, not a fixed limit. Paragraph 36 states that if support is needed at a higher rate and the case manager is satisfied the cost is valid, they can still award it. In that situation, the customer must provide three quotes.
This means you have the right to explain why your rate needs to be above the banding, and to ask AtW to consider three quotes instead.
DeafATW suggests that you say something like this:
If you think the rate you have been offered does not reflect the cost of your interpreting support, you can say this on the phone, post, or send it by email if you have email as a Reasonable Adjustment:
"I understand that AtW uses regional cost bandings for support workers. However, I believe the support I need requires a higher rate than the regional banding. Because ...
[Choose the reason that applies to you: the interpreters in my area charge more than the banding / I work across more than one region and interpreter rates where I work are higher / I need an interpreter with specialist experience and qualifications for my work, and those interpreters charge a higher rate.]
The AtW Staff Guide, paragraph 36, states that if support is required at a higher rate and the case manager is assured the cost is valid, support can be awarded, and in those cases the customer should provide three quotes.
I would like to provide three quotes to support my case. Please can you tell me how to do this."
If AtW agrees, they will ask you for three quotes from three different interpreting providers. This gives you the chance to show what the real cost of your support is.
Please tell us what happens when you try this. We want to know whether case managers are accepting higher rates, and whether the process is working in practice.
The full sections taken from the guidance
The following is taken directly from the AtW Staff Guide (Section 6: Support Workers, subsection: Assessing a customer's needs), updated 13 November 2025.
Paragraph 34: "The requirement for a customer to provide three written quotations has been removed in most cases and CMs can award support based on an agreed regional cost banding for SWs. These funding bands cover all types of SW and are inclusive of VAT."
Paragraph 35: "Holistic decision making should be applied in all cases. If the customer disagrees with the proposed funding the CM must try to understand the reasons for this."
Paragraph 36: "The cost bandings are to be used as a guide. If support is required at a higher rate and the CM is assured the cost is valid, support can be awarded. In these scenarios, the customer is required to provide three quotes."
Paragraph 38: "Should the customer wish to provide a written quote they are able to do this, within a reasonable timeframe agreed with the CM. If the quote the customer provides is above the regional cost bandings, they must provide three quotes."
Full guidance: Access to Work: staff guide (GOV.UK, updated 13 November 2025)