DWP new October update as it admits one rule is creating 'barriers' for claimants

DWP new October update as it admits one rule is creating 'barriers' for claimants The Department for Work and Pensions has given a new update on the service as some people face 'barriers' that others do not The DWP has issued a new update about one rule creating 'barriers' for many users of an important service. The Access to Work scheme provides financial and practical support to people with a physical or mental health condition or disability. It has been beset by delays as more and more people have applied for support it in recent years. Grants offered by the programme can currently reach around £69,000. The scheme offers help to people to get work or stay in work. Recipients can get a grant in order to acquire practical support to stay at work. It can also help with things like money to help with communication support at job interviews. A Parliamentary select committee said recently that "the practical support that the scheme funds can be the difference between someone being in work or out of work." But the department has faced challenges as more people use the scheme. Demand for the scheme roughly doubled between 2018-19 and 2024-25. The DWP admitted in Parliament this week that people were in 2025-26 waiting 100 days for a decision after an Access to Work application - up from 67 the year before. Now the department has had to issue a response from Parliament over new questions about the programme. The scheme allows so-called appointed representatives to deal with their affairs. Yet there are problems with this that other users of the service do not face, the DWP has this week admitted. DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms said in a statement on Monday, October 12 that officials were working to change this - but any such change will not be quick. The issue relates to the Access to Work online service. This allows people who have been awarded a grant to submit their funding claims online. These are often used to pay for a support worker, specialist equipment and travel costs. The minister said in his statement that one rule currently does not allow appointees to have access to the online service. He said: "The Access to Work online service has been designed to enable customers to manage their claims securely following identity verification using GOV.UK One Login. At present, the service does not support appointees accessing or submitting claims on behalf of customers. This is because the current service relies on individual identity verification to protect customers' personal information and maintain the security and integrity of the claims process, using GOV.UK One Login. "DWP is committed to ensuring Access to Work services are accessible to all customers. Customers can apply for Access to Work support and renew existing awards through the online service, which has been developed in line with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 and is fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard. "Recognising that some customers may be unable to use the online service, alternative channels remain available. Customers can contact Access to Work by telephone and, for those who are unable to hear or speak on the phone, Relay UK is available as an alternative communication route. "The Department keeps its services under review and is committed to meeting accessibility and reasonable adjustment requirements that are considered as part of the design and delivery of Access to Work services. "Digital work is currently planned to commence during the second half of financial year 2027-28 to explore the barriers preventing appointees from accessing the online service and to identify potential options for enabling appointee access in the future, while maintaining appropriate security and identity assurance standards." The minister's admission over the barriers facing many users comes after the DWP announced in the summer it was recruiting hundreds of staff to tackle a backlog of cases for using the service. It was revealed that 480 new case managers and caseworkers would be recruited to help fix the backlog by September 2027. Access to Work - how can I apply? Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said recently that the scheme is "highly valued by the many disabled people it supports, Disabled People’s Organisations and employers." Yet there are eligibility criteria for the scheme. The government says you must - live and work (or be about to start or return to work) in England, Scotland or Wales - there’s a different system in Northern Ireland - be in paid work (or be about to start or return to paid work in the next 12 weeks) - have a physical or mental health condition or disability that means you need support to do your job or get to and from work - be 16 or over In addition, officials say that when it comes to mental health support, you can only claim Access to Work once. To get help, you need to have a health condition, illness or disability that means you need help in order to work. Official government guidance says this can include: - a temporary condition, like a broken leg - a physical disability, for example if you’re hard of hearing or use a wheelchair - a learning disability or related condition, for example if you have Down’s syndrome - an illness such as diabetes or epilepsy - a mental health condition, for example anxiety or depression - having ADHD or dyslexia - a developmental condition, like autism spectrum disorder But note that you must have a paid job or be about to start or return to one in order to qualify. For full details, visit the government web page on the subject.