DWP Slashes Disabled Claimant’s Support by £50,000 with Only 17 Days’ Notice

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been drastically reducing financial support for disabled workers under its Access to Work scheme, often with minimal warning. Since the start of 2024, many claimants have faced significant cuts during funding renewals, sparking growing concern about the impact on disabled individuals’ employment prospects.

One striking example is Becca Jiggens, based in Plymouth, who has macular disease, ADHD, and autism. She manages the Work Inclusion Project, which offers employment support to disabled professionals, academics, and entrepreneurs. Previously awarded £68,000 annually through Access to Work, Becca’s funding was abruptly slashed to just £18,000—an enormous £50,000 reduction—with only 17 days’ notice.

Becca expressed frustration at the justification for this cut, explaining that DWP suggested artificial intelligence could replace her legally qualified assistant. She rebutted, emphasizing AI’s current inadequacy in the legal field and the critical importance of human support, particularly for navigating complex financial and legal systems that lack visual accessibility.

“If I had been given more than 17 days’ notice, even two months, I could have planned appropriately for this drastic change,” she said. “Cutting support so suddenly doesn’t help get more disabled people into work—it does the opposite.”

Reports indicate that rejection rates for Access to Work applications have risen from 24% in 2023–24 to nearly one-third between April and October 2024, even though official guidance remains unchanged. Many disabled claimants feel this signals a worrying trend toward restrictive funding cuts.

A DWP spokesperson acknowledged existing issues, stating: “Access to Work supports thousands of sick or disabled people to start or stay in work, with funding nearly doubling in the last five years. However, we recognize inherited problems and are actively working with disabled people and organizations to improve the scheme. Our goal is to provide the necessary support, skills, and opportunities for disabled individuals to find and sustain quality employment through our Plan for Change.”