Access to Work scheme: growing backlogs and rising cost to be investigated by PAC
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will examine whether the Access to Work scheme is providing value for money as it questions senior officials from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Meeting details
Access to Work is a demand-led grant scheme to help people get, or stay in, work if they have a physical or mental health condition or disability. Demand for the scheme more than doubled between 2017-18 and 2024-25, which led to an increase in spending on from £163m in 2018-19 to £321m in 2024-25.
A recent report conducted by the National Audit Office (NAO) found that alongside rising costs, increased demand has led to significant processing delays and backlogs. The backlog of outstanding applications almost trebled between 2022 and 2025, and the time taken to process applications rose to 109 days in 2025, compared with 28 days in 2022.
The cross-party PAC will consider the value for money of Access to Work as it questions the DWP on its plans to reform the scheme, and the likely timeframe for this. MPs may also explore the impact increased demand has had on individuals and employers who rely on the scheme amid concerns that delays have affected job security and cashflow.
The Committee could examine the DWP’s administration of the scheme, including how it measures the impact of the funding provided and its ability to work with employers to ensure that funding is being used appropriately.