Data uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show the average wait time for a decision under the scheme was 57 days in the last year
People with mental health conditions or disabilities are waiting months to get help under the government’s Access to Work scheme, figures show.
Data uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show the average wait time for a decision under the scheme was 57 days in the last year.
And one person had to wait 393 days.
The government’s Access to Work scheme helps people get or stay in work if they have a physical or mental health condition or disability.
It can include a grant to help pay for practical support with work, support managing mental health at work or money to pay for communication support at job interviews.
But the Lib Dems argue slow progress through the system can disincentivise employers from offering jobs to disabled people as they can hire non-disabled people into roles faster.
The figures emerged after a furious backbench rebellion forced Labour to drop elements of its welfare reform plan which would have cut billions of pounds from the benefits bill.
“This is no way to make legislation let alone run a country,” Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson said
“The past week has caused anxiety and confusion for all those who were at risk of being affected by these changes.”
Responding to a written question from Ms Cooper, Work and Pensions minister Stephen Timms said: “We are committed to reducing waiting times for Access to Work and are considering the best way to deliver that for customers.
“We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims and applications from customers who are about to start a job or who are renewing are prioritised.”
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He added that the Government’s benefits reform green paper included plans to improve Access to Work, and “we are considering further options to reduce the waiting time for customers.”
She added: “The original bill would have stripped support from disabled people and those who care for them and actually put up more barriers to work rather than bringing them down.
“The Government must accept that this gutted bill is not fit for purpose, withdraw the legislation and come forward with a properly thought through proposal to reduce welfare spending without targeting those in desperate need of support.
“That means speeding up Access to Work decisions, ending the crisis in our NHS so people can go back to their jobs rather than languishing in pain, and making people’s money go further, such as by introducing an energy social tariff.”
