BDF responds to Government plans to clear Access to Work backlog

Business Disability Forum (BDF) has responded to Government plans to recruit additional staff to clear the Access to Work backlog announced today (19 May).

Angela Matthews, Director of Public Policy and Research at Business Disability Forum, said:

“The Access to Work scheme is a labour market inclusion lifeline, helping disabled people to enter and stay in work. For too long, the scheme has lacked the resource it needs to operate efficiently, and this has negatively impacted both disabled people and their employers. Whether waiting for adjustments for an interview or when already in work, timely provision of adjustments is everything.

“Long waiting times for Access to Work has left some disabled people unable to take up job offers. For those in work, it has meant having to change or reduce their roles and has even forced some people to go off sick. Relationships between employee and employer have been made fractious and the skills and contributions that disabled people make to the workplace have been devalued. We are therefore really pleased to see more staff recruited to clear the backlog, but we do also want to see the Treasury invest in the scheme long-term so that this huge backlog does not happen again.”