Thursday
12th March, 10.00am, Grimond Room, Portcullis
House
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) at 10am on Thursday, 12th
March.
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.
Witnesses from 10am:
- Sir Peter Schofield KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department for
Work and Pensions
-
CB CBE, Director General,
DWP Services and Fraud, Department for Work and Pensions
- Helga Swidenbank, Director of Accessibility, Disability and
Disputes, Department for Work and Pensions
- Bill Thorpe, Policy Director for Disability and Health
Support, Department for Work and Pensions
