A Disability Grant Built My Business—Now Cuts Threaten Its Future

The Struggle of Disabled Entrepreneurs and Employees

Josh Wintersgill has been running a successful business for six years, offering products to help wheelchair users travel. However, the future of his company is uncertain due to recent changes in support systems. He has relied on the government’s Access to Work scheme to cover some of the additional costs associated with running his business. Recently, his one-on-one support was reduced by 80%, which has left him worried about the sustainability of his venture.

The Business Disability Forum (BDF) claims that both businesses and their disabled employees are being set up to fail, despite the government's goal of having 80% of disabled people in the workforce. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is currently reviewing all aspects of the Access to Work scheme.

Personal Impact of Reduced Support

Josh requires physical assistance throughout the day for tasks such as traveling, overnight stays, and packing and shipping customer orders. Without this support, he would not be able to run his company effectively. The Access to Work grant previously provided him with a support worker five days a week, but after a reassessment, it was reduced to just one day.

He said: "They're basically with me all the time. They help me in every facet of helping me do my job and without them, I can't do any of that." Josh has appealed the decision, but since the start of July, when his grant ran out, he has had no support, despite no changes in his personal circumstances.

The Role of the Access to Work Scheme

Under the Access to Work scheme, companies and employees can apply for grants to support disabled individuals in the workplace. The program covers extra costs beyond what employers are legally required to provide, including taxis, assistive technology, and British Sign Language interpreters.

Many disabled individuals have reported that their awards have been significantly reduced or completely taken away, leading some to shut down their businesses or turn down job offers. Josh is currently managing his business with his own money, but he says things are very tight and he can only continue for a few more months.

"I'm not getting everything done that I used to get done," he says. "There's so much to do that it's just so hard to stay on top of it... it's just really frustrating."

Broader Impacts on Businesses and Employees

Campaign group Access to Work Collective was formed in response to the problems faced by people applying for or reapplying for grants. Its founder, Dr. Shani Dhanda, noted that since July, the group has amassed nearly 4,000 members. The group recently sent an open letter to the prime minister urging urgent action to fix the "broken" scheme.

At the Sea Change cafe in Sunderland, a social enterprise employing 25 neurodiverse adults, the impact of the Access to Work scheme is evident. Lexie O’Connor, who has worked at the cafe since its opening in 2019, explained how working there has given her confidence and a sense of pride. However, her reapplication for support took 10 months, and the hours for her one-to-one support worker were greatly reduced, forcing the business to cover the shortfall.

"A lot of employers in that time physically would not be able to manage keeping people like myself employed," she said. Lexie noted that the uncertainty surrounding Access to Work is affecting the quality of work the cafe has worked hard to achieve.

Government Response and Challenges

Ministers have acknowledged Access to Work as a key driver in getting disabled people into work. However, Sir Stephen Timms, the minister for social security and disability, stated that the program has struggled to keep up with demand. Spending on the program increased by 41% in 2023-24 to £257.8m, yet there were about 62,000 applications waiting to be processed, with 33,000 people awaiting payment, according to the DWP.

Angela Matthews, director of public policy and research at BDF, called for the scheme to be made more efficient and better resourced. She emphasized that disabled people and employers are being set up to fail because they don’t receive the necessary support to work and create inclusive workplaces.

Challenges Faced by Employers

Allianz UK, a member of BDF, has also faced challenges with the Access to Work scheme. Diana Salmon, head of occupational health and safety at the firm, highlighted long waits for awards to be processed, which could deter potential applicants. In one case, a new recruit left the company shortly after starting because it took nearly a year to get specialist equipment in place.

"We want to provide an inclusive environment, but without timely Access to Work funding for colleagues with complex disabilities, they are potentially being excluded," Diana said.

In a statement, the DWP acknowledged that the Access to Work scheme is failing both employees and employers and is reviewing all aspects of the program. They added that there has been "no change in Access to Work policy."