DWP quietly introduces rule change for popular payment up to £69k – ‘it’s worrying’ | Personal Finance | Finance
Claimants using the Access to Work Scheme would be required to send supporting documents through pos (Image: Getty)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has quietly changed how claimants communicate about a key disability support scheme, in a move that charities have branded “worrying”. The change affects Access to Work, a Government scheme designed to help people with physical or mental health conditions stay in employment by covering the cost of practical workplace support.
Access to Work does not have a fixed payment amount, but grants can be worth up to around £69,000 a year, depending on individual needs. Funding can be used for support workers, specialist equipment, transport to work or help managing mental health in the workplace. In some cases, employers may be asked to contribute towards costs above £10,000.
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The scheme was created to help people with disabilities stay in employment (Image: Getty)
However, under a recent shake-up, claimants have been told they should no longer submit supporting documents by email and instead send paperwork by post, often at their own expense, Birmingham Mail reported.
According to Yahoo News, claimants have also been advised not to use email to communicate with Access to Work caseworkers, with phone calls becoming the primary method of contact. The changes were introduced on January 7.
Disability charities have warned the move risks creating additional barriers for people who already face challenges accessing employment support.
Abdi Mohamed, head of policy at disability equality charity Scope, said the change was “a worrying development”.
“We are already hearing from disabled people about long delays and growing difficulties getting Access to Work support in place,” he said.
“Disabled people already deal with enough barriers getting into work. Access to Work should be removing those barriers, not piling on more confusing and inaccessible processes.”
Evan John, policy advisor at national disability charity Sense, echoed those concerns, warning that the application process itself is becoming an obstacle.
“Access to Work exists to tackle the barriers to employment faced by disabled people,” he said. “It’s therefore unacceptable that the application process itself is too often a barrier.”
Access to Work plays a crucial role for many disabled people across the UK, offering tailored support based on individual assessments rather than a one-size-fits-all payment. The scheme can also provide funding for communication support at job interviews and adjustments needed to carry out day-to-day work.
In response to concerns, a DWP spokesperson said the department had updated its approach to communications to align with internal procedures.
“We’ve updated our Access to Work customer communications so they align with standard departmental procedure,” the spokesperson said.
They added that a range of contact methods, including phone, letter, SMS and email, can still be used “when appropriate or as a reasonable adjustment”.
The DWP has not said whether the changes will be reviewed.
