There has been a growing backlog
People awaiting a decision from the Department for Work and Pensions on whether they will receive crucial financial support have been given an update. It concerns the Access to Work scheme, which offers assistance to individuals with physical and mental health conditions to help them either enter or remain in employment.
Support is provided through grants and other measures to assist with practical workplace adjustments or to fund services such as a sign language interpreter. However, waiting times for a decision on support have been rising steadily over the past five years.
Delays with DWP Access to Work decisions
Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, raised the issue in Parliament, asking: “To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what was the average wait time for a decision to be made following an application for Access to Work each year between 2015 and 2026.”
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions, Minister of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Labour MP for East Ham, responded on Monday, confirming that waiting times had indeed been on the rise.
He revealed that in 2021/22 the average wait stood at 28.3 days, climbing to 57.8 days the following year. In 2023/24 it fell marginally to 45.1 days, before rising again to 67.1 days the year after. By last year, the figure had reached 100.9 days.
Sir Stephen said: “Since the start of the 2026/27 operational year, Access to Work has made positive progress in reducing outstanding work. As of October 1, 2026, using the full reporting period from April to August 2026, we have achieved a net backlog reduction of almost 3,000 cases, specifically 2,980.
“With recruits now arriving and needing to be coached and trained for the next six months, we expect the backlog to stabilise before falling in the spring of 2027. Overall, the programme remains on track, and our assessment is that Access to Work continues to be on course to clear the backlog by September 2027.”
How DWP Access to Work scheme works
Access to Work is designed to assist individuals in securing or maintaining employment where they have a physical or mental health condition or disability. The support available is tailored to each person’s individual circumstances.
This can include a grant to cover practical support in the workplace, assistance with managing mental health while at work, and funding for communication support during job interviews. A grant can be put towards items such as specialist equipment or software, support workers including sign language interpreters or job coaches, and travel costs to work when public transport is not a viable option.
It can also contribute towards vehicle adaptations to help people get to work. Furthermore, it could fund workplace adjustments, which may extend to an applicant’s home.
The DWP states: “If you get an Access to Work grant, it will not affect any other benefits you get and you will not have to pay it back. You or your employer may need to pay some costs up front and claim them back later.”
Those who believe they may qualify are encouraged to verify their eligibility before submitting an application for an Access to Work grant.
