Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to expedite Access to Work applications from disabled people.

We are committed to reducing waiting times for claims to the Access to Work Scheme. We have streamlined delivery practices and have increased the number of staff processing claims. We also prioritise customers starting a job in four weeks.

Despite deploying additional staff and streamlining our procedures, the number of Access to Work applications waiting to be processed is continuing to grow.

That’s why, as set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we consulted on the future of Access to Work and how to improve the programme to help more disabled people into work and support employers.

Reforms are essential to ensure a better service for customers, to help disabled people start and stay in work, to provide clarity in what support should be provided and to ensure we are providing value for money for the taxpayer.

We will be reviewing all aspects of the Scheme now that the consultation has closed. We are continuing to work closely with stakeholders, and in particular disabled people and their representatives, on all aspects of our proposals.