TPT welcomes Government action to tackle Access to Work backlog

Date posted: 19th May 2026

Thomas Pocklington Trust has welcomed today’s Government announcement that almost 500 additional staff will be recruited to help clear the backlog in the Access to Work scheme.

Access to Work provides vital practical and financial support for disabled people and people with health conditions to start work, stay in work and progress in their careers. For blind and partially sighted people, this can include assistive technology, specialist equipment, support workers and help with travel to work.

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that 480 new case managers and caseworkers will be recruited to speed up processing times and support people more quickly. The Government says this represents a 72 per cent increase in staff working on the scheme.

We have long campaigned for improvements to Access to Work, including action to reduce delays and ensure blind and partially sighted people can get the support they need when they need it.

Mike Bell, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said:

“We warmly welcome this announcement. Access to Work can be life-changing for blind and partially sighted people, but only if support is agreed and put in place quickly enough.

“For too long, delays have meant people waiting months for the technology, travel support or assistance they need to do their jobs. That can stop people taking up work, put existing jobs at risk and undermine employers who want to be inclusive.

“This is an issue we have been campaigning on, so it is encouraging to see Government recognise the scale of the problem and commit new staff to tackle the backlog.

“The priority now must be delivery. Blind and partially sighted people need a scheme that is timely, accessible and consistent. We look forward to working with Government to ensure these changes lead to real improvements for the people who rely on Access to Work.”

The announcement also confirms that the Government is prioritising urgent cases where applicants are due to start work within four weeks, and says payment delays have been eliminated.

We believe this action is an important step towards making Access to Work fit for purpose. However, we will continue to press for clear service standards, transparent reporting of waiting times and a system that fully understands the needs of blind and partially sighted people.

What TPT wants to see next

We are calling for:

• clear targets for reducing Access to Work waiting times
• transparent public reporting on application and renewal delays
• accessible communication throughout the application process
• specialist understanding of the support blind and partially sighted people need
• continued engagement with disabled people and sight loss organisations as reforms are developed

Access to Work is one of the most important tools available to remove barriers in the workplace. If the scheme works well, it can help more blind and partially sighted people get into work, stay in work and thrive.