Access to Work Backlogs MP reply

I was asked to send a campaign letter to my local MP and this was her reply:

Dear Joy

Thank you for contacting me about Access to Work. It is a brilliant programme, and I want more people to benefit from it. Unfortunately, as you note, too many people are not getting the service they deserve.

I’m so sorry that it has taken me a while to get back to you on this matter. I have been coping with a very high volume of casework in recent months and I’m only now able to reply. Please accept my apologies.

Access to Work helps disabled people overcome barriers to employment by providing support beyond the reasonable adjustments that employers are expected to make. Reducing the disability employment gap is a priority, and Access to Work is an essential part of that. That is why the Government’s plan to clear the backlog is so important.

Since 2024, the number of staff working on Access to Work has increased by around 30%, nearly 500 new staff are being recruited to clear the application backlog, and urgent cases are being fast-tracked. This represents a 72% increase in the scheme’s workforce, which will help to fix the backlog inherited from the previous Government by September 2027.

I understand how frustrating Access to Work delays can be. The scheme is supporting more people than ever, including those with mental health conditions and learning disabilities. It is also facing challenges like rising costs and increased demand. In 2024/25, there were more than double the number of applications than in 2018/19. Spending on the scheme has also increased over this period. In 2024/25, expenditure was £321 million, a real-terms increase of 96% since 2018/19. These issues have a real impact on both disabled people and their employers.

I agree with you that reform is needed to ensure the scheme is fair and sustainable. It was first constructed over 30 years ago, and the nature of work and support needs have changed significantly since then. The Government has taken the time to consult widely with disabled people, employers and representative bodies, and it is now considering a range of further evidence to shape changes to the scheme. This includes collaboration with the Independent Disability Advisory Panel.

Access to Work is so important to the people it supports, so it is vital that time is taken to get reforms right and deliver real improvements. Changes should not be about cutting costs, but about making sure support is available to more people who need it.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this vital issue. Please be assured I will continue to follow developments closely.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any other concerns or if there’s anything I can do to help with any other matter.

Best wishes,

Jess

Jess Phillips – Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley
Acocks Green, Yardley, Small Heath, Sheldon and Stechford - 0121 708 2412

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