Access to Work is one of the most valuable employment support schemes the Government offers. For Deaf people and their employers, it can be life-changing, funding BSL interpreters, speech-to-text reporters, specialist equipment and much more.
But right now, the wait for a decision on your application can be significant. In some cases, very significant.
Recent evidence presented to the House of Commons public accounts committee revealed that the average processing time for an Access to Work application is currently 109 days, well above the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) target of 25 days. More strikingly, applicants calling the Access to Work helpline are now being told that decisions can take up to 37 weeks.
That’s a long time. But it’s not a reason to be put off. It’s a reason to apply as early as you possibly can, and to know what to do while you wait. This blog covers both.
Why is Access to Work taking so long right now?
The honest answer is that demand has outpaced capacity.
Since the pandemic, the number of Access to Work claims has roughly doubled, and the claims themselves have become more complex. Senior DWP figures have acknowledged to MPs that adding more caseworkers hasn’t been enough to keep pace with the volume of applications coming through the door.
The result is a growing backlog, rising complaints and, for many disabled people and their employers, an agonising wait at the point when support is most needed.
To be fair to the DWP, work is underway to address the backlog, and reforms to the scheme are expected later in the year. The proportion of applications being rejected has also risen in recent years, which has added to the pressure on the system as people go through the reconsideration process.
However, none of this should put you off applying. Access to Work remains an incredibly important source of support, and thousands of Deaf professionals and their employers rely on it every year. The key is to go in with realistic expectations and get your application in as early as possible.
When should you apply?
As soon as you possibly can. If you’re a Deaf employee starting a new role, you can apply up to 12 weeks before your start date, which will put you in a much stronger position than waiting until you’re already in post. If you’re an employer who’s just recruited a Deaf team member, have the conversation about Access to Work straight away. Don’t wait until your new colleague is struggling through meetings without appropriate support.
For people already in employment who haven’t yet applied, the message is the same. Don’t delay. You can’t control how quickly your application is processed once it’s in the system, but you can control when you join the queue. Given that some applicants are currently waiting the better part of a year for a decision, the sooner you get started, the better.
What you can do to avoid slowing things down further
While you can’t speed up the queue itself, you can make sure your application doesn’t get held up for avoidable reasons. A significant number of delays, and outright rejections, come down to applications that are vague, incomplete or missing key details. Here’s how to give yours the best possible chance of moving through smoothly:
Be specific about the support you need
Don’t just write ‘communication support’ and leave it at that. Spell out exactly what you need, whether it’s face-to-face BSL interpreting for weekly team meetings, remote interpreting for client calls or speech-to-text reporting for large conferences. The more precise you are, the easier it is for an assessor to make a decision.
Get your employment details right
Your job title, contracted hours, workplace address and line manager’s contact details all need to be accurate and complete. Missing or incorrect information is one of the most common reasons applications get bounced back.
Have your documents ready before you start
You’ll need your National Insurance number, your employment contract details and, if you have one, an audiogram or letter from an audiologist. Having these to hand before you begin will make the process quicker and smoother.
If you’re an employer supporting a Deaf employee’s application, consider writing a short supporting statement that describes the role and the communication demands it involves. This kind of context can strengthen an application and help the assessor understand what’s needed.
Once the application is submitted, follow up after two or three weeks with a polite phone call to confirm it’s been received and is in the queue. It sounds simple, but it demonstrates engagement and keeps your case on the radar.
And if your preferred language is BSL, make sure you request interpreter support for any telephone or video assessment well in advance. You’re entitled to this, and arranging it early means there’s no delay when your assessment is scheduled.
What should you do while you’re waiting?
Waiting for an Access to Work decision doesn’t mean waiting to put support in place. In fact, if you’re an employer, you have a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for your Deaf employees. That duty exists regardless of whether your Access to Work application has been approved.
So, while the paperwork is being processed, think about what you can put in place in the meantime. Booking a BSL interpreter for essential meetings is a good starting point. Remote BSL interpreting services like our InterpretersLive! platform give you flexible, on-demand access to qualified interpreters without the need for long-term contracts. Providing written summaries of meetings and exploring live captioning tools are all practical steps that make a real difference day to day.
It’s also worth knowing that some costs you incur during the waiting period may be claimable once your funding is approved. This isn’t guaranteed, and you should check with an adviser before assuming anything, but it’s worth raising when you speak to your Access to Work contact.
For Deaf employees, you shouldn’t have to go without support while the system catches up. Speak to your employer, be clear about what you need, and lean on interim solutions where you can.
The wait can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to mean months of struggling through without any help at all.
What happens if your application is rejected?
Try not to panic. Rejections happen more often than they should, and they’re frequently down to something straightforward. There is a formal reconsideration process. You have one month from the date of your decision letter to submit additional evidence and ask for the decision to be reviewed. Many people succeed on their second application, often without any major changes to their circumstances, simply by addressing the gaps that caused the initial rejection.
How can Sign Solutions help?
Navigating Access to Work can feel overwhelming, particularly when you’re also trying to get on with your job.
At Sign Solutions, we’ve supported hundreds of successful Access to Work applications. We understand what assessors are looking for, and what tends to trip applications up. We can help you identify the right support for your needs, put together clear cost evidence and make sure your application describes your requirements in a way that’s specific, credible and easy for an assessor to act on. If your application is rejected, we can also help you work out the best approach for reconsideration.
And while your application is being processed, we can provide the interim communication support you need to keep things running. Whether that’s face-to-face BSL interpreting, video remote interpreting or on-demand access through our InterpretersLive! platform, we’ll make sure you and your Deaf colleagues aren’t left without support while you wait for the funding to come through.
To find out more, call us on 0121 447 9620, email bookings@signsolutions.uk.com or get in touch via a BSL video interpreter.
