Disability charity boss slams DWP after losing his own travel work benefits

Disability charity boss slams DWP after losing his own travel work benefits Campaigners claim that the government is scaling back Access to Work awards - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been accused of an “assault on disabled people” by a charity chief after travel support he had received for 15 years was abruptly removed. Kamran Mallick, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, said some of the funding he received through the department’s Access to Work scheme was pulled following a phone call in July. Under the scheme, people with limiting health conditions can apply for a grant to fund practical support with their work, as well as manage their mental health. It is designed to cover costs that employers are not expected to such as specialist equipment, support workers, travelling expenses and adaptations in the workplace. But disability campaigners have warned that issues with Access to Work have seen applicants waiting longer for support, while existing recipients are increasingly having it stripped back or pulled altogether. A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) in February found that processing times for the scheme rose from 28 days in 2020/21 to 109 days in November 2025, with fears this rise has continued. Mr Mallick, 53, has been unable to walk since the age of three after contracting polio. He uses a wheelchair and has worked for disability rights campaign groups through several treatments and injuries. His Access to Work enabled him to fund taxi journeys to and from his workplace alongside a support worker for 20 hours a week. He claims that the DWP told him that this support worker should instead also take on a role as his driver, a proposal Mr Mallick said is “not realistic”. “I am left to absorb the cost of something entirely outside my control,” Mr Mallick writes. “Driving and providing personal support are two distinct skill sets, and finding someone local enough, qualified enough, and willing to commit to a 20-hour role that also requires full-week availability is not realistic,” he added. The issues have coincided with a rise in applications for the scheme, increasing from 76,100 in 2018/19 to 157,000 in 2024/25. Over the same time period, spending on the programme has increased by 40 per cent, from £129 million to £320 million. Despite reports of cutbacks, ministers have insisted that no changes have been made to the Access to Work policy. But campaigners say that pressure on the system means decision makers are reducing the generosity and length of the crucial support. Around 66,000 Access to Work applications were waiting to be processed in March, according to a recent report from the Work & Pensions Committee. Mr Mallick said: “It is infuriating to hear ministers insist on the importance of disabled people working, while the very support that makes that possible is quietly stripped away. “What I went through ... is not an isolated glitch. It's part of a pattern that the evidence now shows clearly. A change in government has only accelerated these changes in the AtW scheme.” The government has placed an emphasis on enabling more disabled people to work through initiatives such as Right to Try, which allows claimants to move into employment without the risk of immediately losing their benefits. Last year, ministers were forced to row back on proposals to cut the Personal Independence Payment – Britain’s most-claimed health-related benefit – with disability minister Stephen Timms instead launching a review into the payment. He is set to report his findings in the autumn, when it is expected that the new government will lay out further plans to change the welfare system. A DWP spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear about Mr Mallick’s negative experience and will consider his reconsideration request in due course. “Access to Work is a lifeline, helping disabled people and people with health conditions to start and stay in work, but demand for the scheme has grown significantly in recent years. That’s why we’re working with disabled people and their organisations to improve it. “No changes have been made to Access to Work policy, and we will announce any future changes prior to them being implemented.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments