Petition to Andy Burnham Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Reforming the Access to Work Scheme
Decision Makers:
Andy Burnham Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
We call on the government to reform the Access to Work scheme so it properly supports disabled people in employment instead of leaving many of us to struggle with delays, poor communication, and unfair treatment.
Access to Work was created to help people at work who are deaf, blind, autistic, have ADHD, or live with severe mental health illness. It should make it possible for people to do their jobs with dignity and stability. Instead, too many people are finding that the scheme is failing on multiple levels. When support is slow, unclear, or inconsistent, it does not just create frustration — it can put people’s jobs, confidence, and independence at risk.
A scheme meant to reduce barriers should not become another barrier itself. If people cannot get the help they need in time, or if they are treated differently depending on who handles their case, then the system is not working as it should. That is not fair to the people it was designed for, and it sends the wrong message about the value of disabled workers.
We are asking the government to address these serious issues now. Access to Work must be made reliable, consistent, accessible, and fair for everyone it is meant to serve. Disabled people should be supported to stay in work, not pushed out by a system that is supposed to help them.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
September 10, 2026
Thank you for your support
September 8, 2026
Thank you everyone who has signed the petition so far! For us to get this petition in front of the PM we need to get lots more signatures, so could I ask you all to share this with family and friends. The Access to Work Scheme could be amazing and help the people it was set up for, we are not asking for it to be abolished but merely for it to be reformed so it can get people into work, just because someone has a disability that requires some support does not mean that they do not want to work, in fact its the complete opposite.
27 Comments
As someone who counts on the Access to Work scheme it causes undue stress when they don't pay on time
You need to address, in particular, the fact that you consistently and continually use the telephone to contact Deaf people. Surely you must realise how stupid this is?
Disabled people face enough barriers to employment- when they secure employment government bureaucracy should not cause this amount of additional stress nor cause their employment to fall through due to issues receiving and maintaining the support they are due
Having worked with many clients with disabilities, I cannot stand by any longer & watch how they are discriminated against & how the very system set up to enable them to gain or retain meaningful employment is failing them.
I tried to get access to work support for the project i am building that is to help support late diagnosed and chronic ill in my area and was told its 37 weeks! So burnout before support, how does thay help anyone?
I like many others have had my funding cut by 82%. My job hasn’t changed, my disability hasn’t changed - and now I’m having to cancel work.
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Petition to Andy Burnham Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Reforming the Access to Work Scheme
Decision Makers:
Andy Burnham Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
We call on the government to reform the Access to Work scheme so it properly supports disabled people in employment instead of leaving many of us to struggle with delays, poor communication, and unfair treatment.
Access to Work was created to help people at work who are deaf, blind, autistic, have ADHD, or live with severe mental health illness. It should make it possible for people to do their jobs with dignity and stability. Instead, too many people are finding that the scheme is failing on multiple levels. When support is slow, unclear, or inconsistent, it does not just create frustration — it can put people’s jobs, confidence, and independence at risk.
A scheme meant to reduce barriers should not become another barrier itself. If people cannot get the help they need in time, or if they are treated differently depending on who handles their case, then the system is not working as it should. That is not fair to the people it was designed for, and it sends the wrong message about the value of disabled workers.
We are asking the government to address these serious issues now. Access to Work must be made reliable, consistent, accessible, and fair for everyone it is meant to serve. Disabled people should be supported to stay in work, not pushed out by a system that is supposed to help them.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
September 10, 2026
Thank you for your support
September 8, 2026
Thank you everyone who has signed the petition so far! For us to get this petition in front of the PM we need to get lots more signatures, so could I ask you all to share this with family and friends. The Access to Work Scheme could be amazing and help the people it was set up for, we are not asking for it to be abolished but merely for it to be reformed so it can get people into work, just because someone has a disability that requires some support does not mean that they do not want to work, in fact its the complete opposite.
27 Comments
Access to work system is inaccessible and consistently breaches the Equality Act by failing to provide reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities to engage with the process. I live with disabilities and depend on access to work to ensure I can access and stay in work. The system is failing me and my health is deteriorating just to advocate for myself I had to write to my MP. The access to work system has not been co-created together with people with lived experience and doesn’t serve us
As someone who counts on the Access to Work scheme it causes undue stress when they don't pay on time
You need to address, in particular, the fact that you consistently and continually use the telephone to contact Deaf people. Surely you must realise how stupid this is?
Disabled people face enough barriers to employment- when they secure employment government bureaucracy should not cause this amount of additional stress nor cause their employment to fall through due to issues receiving and maintaining the support they are due
Having worked with many clients with disabilities, I cannot stand by any longer & watch how they are discriminated against & how the very system set up to enable them to gain or retain meaningful employment is failing them.
I tried to get access to work support for the project i am building that is to help support late diagnosed and chronic ill in my area and was told its 37 weeks! So burnout before support, how does thay help anyone?
I like many others have had my funding cut by 82%. My job hasn’t changed, my disability hasn’t changed - and now I’m having to cancel work.
Advocate for underrepresented groups of people and being a voice for the voiceless.
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Access to work system is inaccessible and consistently breaches the Equality Act by failing to provide reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities to engage with the process. I live with disabilities and depend on access to work to ensure I can access and stay in work. The system is failing me and my health is deteriorating just to advocate for myself I had to write to my MP. The access to work system has not been co-created together with people with lived experience and doesn’t serve us