Delays in the UK’s Access to Work scheme are raising concerns that disabled people could be pushed out of employment due to a lack of timely support.
Recent evidence published in April 2026 by disability organisations highlights ongoing issues with the scheme, including long waiting times for assessments and funding approvals. In some cases, workers have reported delays of several weeks or months before receiving support.
Access to Work provides funding for workplace adjustments, including specialist equipment, travel support, and personal assistance. It is widely seen as a key mechanism for enabling disabled people to enter and remain in employment.
Delays Impacting Job Retention
Campaigners warn that delays are not just affecting access to work, but also job retention.
Without the necessary adjustments in place, some employees are struggling to perform their roles, increasing the risk of individuals leaving employment altogether.
Employers may also face challenges in supporting staff without external funding, particularly in smaller organisations with limited resources.
Growing Demand for Support
Demand for Access to Work has increased in recent years, reflecting a broader push to improve disability employment rates.
However, disability organisations argue that the system has not kept pace with demand, leading to backlogs and inconsistent delivery.
The issue comes at a time when around 2.8 million people in the UK are economically inactive due to long-term illness, according to ONS data published in April 2026.
Calls for Reform
There are growing calls for improvements to the scheme, including faster processing times, clearer communication, and more consistent decision-making.
The delays highlight a wider issue within the labour market: access to work is not only about job availability, but about whether support systems are able to enable participation.
Kim Cockayne