Tens of thousands of disabled people and those with health conditions will receive faster decisions on employment support, following a major recruitment drive by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to tackle long‑standing delays in the Access to Work scheme.
Access to Work provides practical and financial support to help disabled people move into, remain in, or progress in employment. This includes funding for specialist equipment, support workers such as British Sign Language interpreters, and assistance with the additional costs of travelling to work.
Demand for the scheme has risen sharply in recent years, with the number of claims more than doubling since 2018/19. Combined with a backlog inherited from the previous government – which stood at 48,270 undecided applications at the end of June 2024 – this has left around 60,000 applicants awaiting a decision.
As part of its wider ambition to shift from a welfare state to a working state, the DWP is recruiting 480 new case managers and caseworkers to speed up Access to Work decision‑making and ensure people receive support when they need it.
Once fully in place, the recruitment drive will increase staffing on the scheme by 72 per cent, rising from 658 staff today. The additional roles are expected to help clear the inherited backlog by September 2027.
New case managers will receive extensive training to handle complex applications, with a focus on delivering timely, high‑quality decisions that enable disabled people to secure and sustain employment. Alongside the recruitment programme, the department is already prioritising applications from people due to start work within four weeks.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden, said:
“Access to Work is a lifeline for disabled people and those with health conditions, helping them to start and stay in work, but when I came to the DWP it was clear there was a major issue with people waiting for a decision.
“That’s why I’m taking action to clear the backlog, because we know that the right support can change lives.
“This is part of our wider commitment to move from a welfare state to a working state, building an economy that works for everyone.”
The announcement builds on action already taken over the past year. Since March 2024, staffing levels on Access to Work have increased by around 30 per cent, payment delays have been eliminated, and 96 per cent of urgent start‑date cases are now decided within 28 days.
The move forms part of a broader package of reforms aimed at breaking down barriers to employment for sick and disabled people who have previously struggled to access support.
Alongside changes to Access to Work, the government is investing heavily in employment support, including:
- £3.5 billion to support sick and disabled people into work by the end of the decade
- Connect to Work, providing tailored, localised support to help 300,000 people into employment by the end of this parliament
- The national expansion of WorkWell, backed by £259 million, supporting up to 250,000 people to stay in or return to work
- The introduction of Right to Try, allowing people to test employment without the immediate fear of reassessment
- The redeployment of 1,000 Pathways to Work advisers, who have already supported tens of thousands of people previously written off
These measures sit alongside the government’s Keep Britain Working programme, which brings together employers, local partners and stakeholders to improve workplace practices and support for people with health conditions and disabilities.
The DWP is also considering wider reforms to ensure Access to Work remains fair, effective and financially sustainable. Evidence is being gathered from disabled people, employers and representative organisations to inform future changes to the scheme.
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