The Access to Work Collective has handed an open letter to the UK Government, backed by over 17,000 signatures, demanding urgent reform of the Access to Work programme. Once seen as a vital source of support for disabled people in employment, the scheme is now facing claims of inefficiency and underfunding, leaving many without the help they need to stay in work.
New figures for 2025 reveal a sharp decline in approvals, with the number of people receiving any form of Access to Work support dropping from 68,730 in the year to March 2024 to 61,670 the following year. Approvals across key support areas — including Special Aids and Equipment, Support Workers, Mental Health Services, and Travel to Work — have also fallen by nearly 10%. Campaigners argue these figures expose the scale of cuts and delays hitting disabled workers.
The Collective, supported by MPs Steve Darling and Carla Denyer through the #AccessToNowhere campaign, says applicants are facing months-long waits for assessments, payments, and renewals. Many have already been forced to reduce hours, turn down work, or leave their jobs entirely as a result of bureaucratic delays and poor communication.
Co-founders Dr Shani Dhanda and Jacqueline Winstanley have urged the Government to halt further cuts, clear existing backlogs, and rebuild the system in collaboration with disabled people. They warn that continued failings are not only undermining independence and wellbeing but also costing the economy by forcing talented individuals out of employment.
