Access to Work scheme under serious threat, say campaigners

Access to Work, a government scheme enabling disabled people to access and stay in work, is under serious threat, according to a grassroots network of over 3,000 disabled people and allies.

The Access to Work Collective has launched the #AccessToNowhere campaign, aiming to stop the cuts and defend Access to Work. It says that since February 2024, the Access to Work scheme has been descending into crisis.

The disabled community has been witnessing over six months of delays on new applications and renewals, inconsistent decisions that go against the scheme’s own guidelines, and 40-60% award cuts.

What is the Access to Work scheme?

Access to Work was established in June 1994 and provides essential grants for practical support, such as funding specialist equipment and adaptations, communication support (such as BSL interpreters), transport, Support Workers and more.

It is essential for levelling the playing field, especially at the point of hire. It does this by reducing the need for employers to fund reasonable workplace adjustments, thereby lessening it as a decision-making factor.

Scope estimates that there are one million disabled people who are out of work and want to work, and Access to Work has proven to be a valuable tool in helping to change this.

What is happening now?

According to the network, as of February 2025, 62,000 Access to Work applications are still waiting and 33,000 people are stuck with unpaid claims. Behind each number, someone is at risk of losing their job or has already lost their job because of the scheme’s cuts.

Actress, Producer, Author and Deaf Advocate, Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE added: “Access to Work is essential and necessary support for disabled people who want to work. We incur extra costs through no fault of our own, simply because the world is not accessible. Cutting Access to Work will push many disabled people out of work or block them from progressing. Once again, this government is undermining the disabled community by slashing its funding. It must stop.”

Adam Pearson, Broadcaster and Disability Rights Campaigner, added: “As a member of the disabled community, I feel saddened that against a backdrop of benefit reform, coupled with government incompetence and fake media outrage, I, along with many of my peers, am having to justify our existence in society.

“PIP fraud is estimated to be 0.4% by the DWP yet you wouldn’t know that from the media rhetoric…one GB News presenter recently stated you could “claim PIP for acne”, a total lie and breach of OfCom regulations. I also find it troublesome that yet once again, decisions that impact disabled people’s quality of life are being made by non-disabled people.”

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today.

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