People relying on a crucial Department for Work and Pensions benefit scheme are encountering what campaigners describe as a "nightmare" situation, facing waits of up to eighteen months for essential financial support. New research has uncovered that Access to Work applications have more than doubled over the past four years, creating significant backlogs and processing delays that are severely impacting disabled individuals seeking to remain in employment.
Processing Times Surge Nearly Fourfold
The Access to Work grants are designed to assist disabled people in maintaining their employment by providing funds to cover costs that exceed reasonable workplace adjustments. However, a National Audit Office report published recently reveals alarming trends in the scheme's administration. The average time required to process claims has increased dramatically from just 28 days in the 2020-21 period to 66 days in 2024-25, reaching a concerning 109 days by November 2025.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, commented on the growing demand for the scheme, stating that maximising value for money would require the Labour Party government to improve current administration systems, address backlogs effectively, and properly assess the scheme's overall impact. This substantial increase in processing delays represents a nearly fourfold surge over the four-year period examined.
Personal Accounts Reveal Human Impact
Disability consultant Alice Hastie, who works with both employers and employees, reported that many of her clients have experienced significant difficulties with the Access to Work programme. She revealed to the I paper that disabled individuals applying to the scheme for the first time while employed are waiting up to nine months for a decision, with self-employed people facing even more prolonged waits extending to eighteen months.
Mark Gale, Policy Manager at the national disability charity Sense, expressed serious concerns about these delays, emphasising that reducing waiting times must not result in disabled people becoming ineligible for this crucial funding. Instead, he advocated for increased investment in Access to Work, including better promotion of the scheme to ensure every disabled person has a fair opportunity to remain employed.
Government Response and Proposed Reforms
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson acknowledged the challenges, stating that processes are being streamlined and staffing increased to improve the situation. The spokesperson recognised that the inherited scheme is failing both employees and employers and requires substantial reform. The "Keep Britain Working" review aims to develop a system that genuinely supports disabled people in accessing employment opportunities.
Other campaigners have characterised the current situation as a "nightmare" scheme, highlighting the urgent need for systemic improvements to ensure timely support for disabled workers across the United Kingdom. The combination of increased application volumes and processing delays has created a perfect storm affecting some of society's most vulnerable individuals seeking to maintain their employment and independence.
