AtW Archives - Wheelie MS Advocate

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The Access to Work (AtW) scheme has long been a lifeline for disabled people in the UK who want to work on equal footing with non-disabled peers. But in 2025, this crucial service is facing both operational delays and controversial policy changes, sparking concern across the disability community.

🔍 What Is Access to Work?

Access to Work is a government scheme that provides practical and financial support to disabled people who are in paid work, self-employed, or about to start a job. It helps cover the cost of things like:

Workplace assistants or BSL interpreters
Special equipment (e.g., screen readers, adapted chairs)
Travel to work if public transport isn’t accessible
Mental health support

It’s meant to fill the gaps where an employer’s duty to make “reasonable adjustments” ends — but many fear that this distinction is under threat.

🚨 What’s Changing in 2025?

Although not officially confirmed through public consultation, several significant policy changes were set to take effect in May 2025. These include:

Reclassifying essential equipment (e.g. ergonomic chairs, desks, software) as “standard business items” — shifting costs from the scheme to employers
Hard caps on hourly support worker rates — potentially pricing out the most qualified or experienced aides
Restricting job aide support worker eligibility — narrowing who qualifies for workplace assistance
Tightening rules for minor support adjustments — making it harder to request additional help without a full reassessment

These plans were quietly paused following online backlash and media pressure — but they could still return under reworded proposals.

⏳ Delays and Dysfunction: The AtW Backlog Crisis

Even without these reforms, the scheme is under strain. As of early 2025:

Over 60,000 people are stuck in backlog, some waiting up to 9 months
Processing times have ballooned from 55 days to over 84 days
Employers are withdrawing job offers because disabled candidates can’t get support in time

This isn’t just bureaucracy, it’s systemic exclusion from work. Delays can mean lost income, withdrawn opportunities, or worsening health while waiting for essential adjustments.

The problems aren’t new. In a previous post, we explored how the outsourcing of AtW to Maximus, a company with a controversial track record in disability assessments, contributed to these delays, sparking widespread frustration and concern from the disabled community.

“These failures have left many wondering: why is a company with such a track record being trusted with yet another crucial support system?“

🏛️ Government Response: Reform or Retraction?

The UK government recently announced a £1 billion employment support package for people who are disabled or long-term sick. The ambition? Get more people “back into work.” But critics argue this could mask cost-cutting motives.

Key parts of the plan include:

Pushing employers to fund adjustments directly
Bulk-buying assistive tech to cut AtW costs
Reassessing eligibility and limiting the scope of support

While some elements could improve efficiency, there are serious risks of undermining disabled people’s autonomy, especially those who are self-employed, freelance, or in non-traditional work.

💬 Voices from the Community

“If this support disappears, so does my career.”
— AtW user, digital accessibility consultant

“The system is already broken. Adding more red tape will just push more disabled people out of work.”
— Equality advisor, grassroots DPO

Disability rights groups like Disability Rights UK are stepping up to coordinate a response, organizing DPO Response Circles to collect views from disabled individuals and organizations.

✊ How You Can Take Action

📢 Join the Consultation

If you’re part of a Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO), you can register for online response circles via Disability Rights UK. These sessions are a chance to shape national advocacy and resist harmful changes.

🗣️ Share Your Story

Whether you’ve faced delays, lost a job offer, or feel unheard — your story matters. Consider:

Writing to your MP
Contacting local press
Sharing experiences with advocacy campaigns on social media using hashtags like #AccessToWork and #AtWDelays