Pathways to Work: Evidence pack: Chapter 4 supporting employers
Updated 29 May 2025
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This publication is available at /government/consultations/pathways-to-work-reforming-benefits-and-support-to-get-britain-working-green-paper/pathways-to-work-evidence-pack-chapter-4-supporting-employers
Published: 2 May 2025
Coverage: As specified in the chapter
Theme: Health and disability benefits
Frequency: Ad hoc publication
Contacts
Analysis: Disability Analysis Division
Email: [email protected]
Department for Work and Pensions
Caxton House
6-12 Tothill Street
SW1H 9NA
Press enquiries: 0203 267 5129
We welcome feedback
Further Information
1. Access to Work grant expenditure forecast
Source: /government/publications/access-to-work-grant- expenditure-forecasts
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 2009/2010 outcome | 94 |
| 2010/2011 outcome | 102 |
| 2011/2012 outcome | 90 |
| 2012/2013 outcome | 92 |
| 2013/2014 outcome | 104 |
| 2014/2015 outcome | 94 |
| 2015/2016 outcome | 93 |
| 2016/2017 outcome | 100 |
| 2017/2018 outcome | 106 |
| 2018/2019 outcome | 123 |
| 2019/2020 outcome | 146 |
| 2020/2021 outcome | 104 |
| 2021/2022 outcome | 146 |
| 2022/2023 outcome | 177 |
| 2023/2024 outcome | 249 |
| 2024/2025 forecast | 318 |
| 2025/2026 forecast | 385 |
| 2026/2027 forecast | 463 |
| 2027/2028 forecast | 545 |
| 2028/2029 forecast | 629 |
| 2029/2030 forecast | 712 |
拢 million, nominal terms, Great Britain
This chart shows forecast Access to Work grant expenditure up to 2029/2030. Access to Work grant expenditure was 拢249 million in 2023/2024, this is forecast to rise to 拢712 million by 2029/2030.
Access to Work grant expenditure excludes expenditure on Access to Work Assessments, Mental Health Support Services and administration costs of the scheme. This definition of grant expenditure differs to that used for the Access to Work Official Statistics (which include expenditure on Mental Health Support Services and Access to Work Assessments), so totals will differ, but the data sources used are the same.
The forecast is based on the current Access to Work scheme continuing under the current policy rules. Any potential future changes to the scheme are not considered and the forecast may differ to the funding allocated to DWP.
The forecast excludes the cost of applications received but not yet processed - in February 2025 there were 62,000 applications waiting to be processed (this includes new claims, renewals and change of circumstances).
2. The number of people who received a payment for any Access to Work provision of each type
聽 Number of people who were in receipt of one or more payments for any Access to Work provision of each type, 2009 to 2024
| Financial year | Any provision | Any assessment | Any element |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009/2010 | 30,340 | 11,390 | 22,850 |
| 2010/2011 | 32,260 | 13,330 | 22,640 |
| 2011/2012 | 26,230 | 9,230 | 18,650 |
| 2012/2013 | 27,760 | 10,600 | 19,420 |
| 2013/2014 | 29,850 | 10,890 | 21,910 |
| 2014/2015 | 29,640 | 11,300 | 20,880 |
| 2015/2016 | 28,610 | 10,750 | 20,540 |
| 2016/2017 | 29,970 | 12,640 | 20,940 |
| 2017/2018 | 33,930 | 15,160 | 22,460 |
| 2018/2019 | 37,690 | 15,270 | 26,040 |
| 2019/2020 | 42,000 | 16,540 | 29,150 |
| 2020/2021 (note 3) | 37,760 | 13,360 | 27,130 |
| 2021/2022 | 38,680 | 12,540 | 29,370 |
| 2022/2023 | 49,020 | 18,520 | 34,8000 |
| 2023/2024 | 61,630 | 16,650 | 49,920 |
Source: Figures taken from
This chart shows the number of people who were in receipt of one or more payments for any Access to Work provision of each type from 2009 to 2024. 61,630 people were in receipt of payments for any Access to Work provision in 2023/2024. When compared to the previous year, there was a 26% increase in the number of people who received a payment for Access to Work provision in 2023/2024.
Notes
1) People who had received a payment for more than one item of provision in a given financial year are counted once against each of the relevant types of provision for the financial year in question. For example, a person who received payment for 2 Assessments and 2 Elements in 2023/2024 would be counted once against 鈥淎ny Assessment鈥�, once against 鈥淎ny Element鈥� and once against 鈥淎ny provision鈥� in the 2023/2024 column.
2) People who received a payment for provision in more than one financial year are counted once against the relevant types of provision for each of the financial years in question. For example, a person who received a payment for one Assessment in 2022/2023 and 2 Elements in 2023/2024 would be counted once against 鈥淎ny Assessment鈥� in the 2022/2023 column, once against 鈥淎ny Element鈥� in the 2023/2024 column and once against 鈥淎ny provision鈥� in both columns.
3) Due to the Access to Work digital transformation programme and the move to a new administrative system, we cannot say how many people had an approval or received a payment for Communication Support for Interviews (CSI) in 2020/2021. Access to Work continued to provide Communication Support for Interviews to individuals throughout this period.
3. The number of disabled people in employment, in the UK
Source: Figures taken from
There were 5.5 million disabled people in employment in the UK in Q2 2024. This is an increase of 310,000 on the year.
Notes:
1) Quarter: The ONS have only reweighted Labour Force Survey (LFS) data with the latest population estimates from July to September 2022 onwards. Therefore, disability employment data prior to and from July to September 2022 are not directly comparable.
2) Disabled: April 2013 onwards: Government Statistical Service (GSS) Harmonised Standard definition of disability, in line with the Equality Act 2010 (EA) core definition. Prior to April 2013: Based on the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) definition.
3) Employment: One hour or more of paid work per week or temporarily away from work.