The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been forced to admit that over 66,000 disabled people are still awaiting a decision on their Access to Work claim.
DWP forced to admit how many are still waiting for Access to Work
Access to Work is, in theory, there to help disabled people get and stay in work. It’s supposed to provide financial support for support workers and extra equipment. The problem is, like anything else the DWP touches, it’s absolutely fucked.
The system is plagued with huge backlogs, and in an effort to save money, many are having their vital support cut. Most recently, the director of Graeae, Jenny Sealey, had her support cut by 50%.
Green MP Sian Berry asked the DWP for an update on the Access to Work backlog via a written question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions… how many Access to Work claims have been processed since 10 October 2025; what the extent is of the backlog of outstanding claims; and what steps he is taking to reduce that backlog.
Her question was answered by the minister for disabled people, Stephen Timms. But of course, he also gave her a load of bullshit, too:
We are committed to reducing waiting times in Access to Work so that people can access the support they need. We prioritise applications from customers who are due to start work within the next four weeks, as well as renewals for existing grants, to minimise disruption to employment.
He continued:
In March 2025, the Department published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, launching a consultation on the future of Access to Work and how the scheme can better support disabled people in employment. We are reviewing all aspects of the programme as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.
What he missed out here is that Access to Work is already being quietly cut and criteria changes were made before the consultation was even published.
Finally though Timms gave up how many had been processed and how many were awaiting a decision.
From the period 10/10/2025 to 23/02/2026 51,924 Access to Work claims have been processed. As of the 23/02/2026 there were 66,749 applications awaiting a decision.
DWP still holding back figures
It’s important to note that the 51,924 aren’t claims that have been approved. They’re simply application forms that have made it onto the system.
Conveniently, the DWP hasn’t published complete figures on how many claims were approved and denied since March 2025. Which also at the same time that the DWP ramped up the effort to demonise disabled people and force them into work. It could just be that it’s not time to republish them yet, but with the way the DWP’s going, it seems suspicious as fuck.
What we do know, however, is that 27,297 applications were denied from April to October 2025, that was 33% of claims up until this point. In the whole of the 2024/25 financial year, 34,874 applications were not approved. So to have had almost as many denials in 6 months as there were the whole of the previous year shows what a disgusting state the scheme is in.
In October 2025, when the question was last asked, 62,000 were outstanding, so that figure has gone up by 4,000 in just four months.
Access to Work under scrutiny
This all comes as the DWP is under investigation for its failures around Access to Work. The Public Accounts Committee will be hearing evidence from senior DWP civil servants on 12th March. Hopefully, they will be held to account, as the PAC has absolutely dragged the DWP lately. It recently pulled the department up for demonising claimants instead of fixing its system. But back in December 2025 the committee also questioned the DWP’s ability to actually support people into work.
One thing’s for sure, the Access to Work scheme needs a lot more scrutiny that it is currently getting, so hopefully the DWP will be finally pushed to actually fucking support disabled people.
Featured image via the Canary
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