Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of the cap on the Access to Work grant on the ability of (a) deaf and (b) other disabled people to enter the workforce.

In May 2015 the Government published an Equality Analysis of the impact of the reforms to Access to Work, which may be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/426416/future-of-access-to-work-equality-analysis.pdf

This year the Cap is set at £42,100 per annum, calculated at one-and-a-half times the current annual average earnings figure. Access to Work has set up specialist teams, including dedicated high-value award teams, who are working with employers and customers to support them in making the most efficient and effective use of their awards.

We are monitoring the application of the Cap and consider whether any further flexibilities may be required.