A damning new report from the campaign group deaf together reveals that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Access to Work scheme, designed to support disabled people into employment, is failing deaf people at an alarming rate.

DWP Access to Work is failing deaf people

According to the report, only 15% of deaf people who have used DWP Access to Work have had a positive experience, with prolonged delays in claim processing and implementation leaving many without crucial support when they start or continue jobs.

This situation forces deaf workers to begin roles without the necessary communication aids, such as British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, putting their employment at risk and causing unnecessary hardship.

DWP Access to Work is a government scheme intended to provide disabled people—including the second largest user group, deaf people—with support like specialist equipment, communication aids, and support workers to enable them to get into and remain in paid employment.

In 2024, 6,090 deaf people used the scheme, illustrating its vital role. However, the report and numerous voices from within the deaf community highlight systemic failures that undermine its potential.

Systemic failures

For example, paediatric nurse Asha Hylton shared her experience of waiting months without access support, having applied three months before starting a new job. “I started my job without access,” she explained, underscoring how inefficient management directly harms disabled workers.

Behind the scenes, these failures ripple through the workforce.

The National Union of BSL Interpreters warns that government cuts and growing demand have turned the system toxic. They report longer delays in interpreters being paid, which discourages them from taking DWP Access to Work assignments. This payment insecurity then directly harms deaf and deafblind professionals who rely on these interpreters to perform their jobs effectively, creating a vicious cycle where communication barriers grow, rather than shrink.

The report also casts a stark light on the precarious situation of self-employed deaf people. Associate Artist Nadeem Islam explained how the lack of support leads to professional isolation and a loss of opportunities in creative industries, saying:

We should not be forced to choose between our passion and our ability to communicate. Equal access is a right — not a luxury.

This resonates deeply in a system where those most vulnerable are doubly disadvantaged by delays and cuts to essential support services.

Wider context makes the situation even more alarming.

Staggering waiting times compound existing problems

Earlier this year, BBC investigations revealed that many businesses employing disabled people are owed large sums by the government due to slow payments from DWP Access to Work, putting jobs at risk.

The Royal National Institute of Deaf People (RNID) has reported waits of up to 16 weeks for claims to be processed. However, as the Canary said on its TikTok, we had reports of deaf people waiting over a year:

@thecanaryuk WTF is the #DWP doing??? read the background story here https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/05/06/dwp-access-to-work-changes/ #disabilitytiktok #chronicillness #spoonies #benefits #labour #disabledtiktok #fyp ♬ original sound – The Canary

This not only jeopardises the flow of financial support but also leaves communication support workers unpaid and unwilling or unable to take on new assignments. For deaf workers, these delays can mean losing out on critical accommodations and facing increased isolation and job insecurity.

SignHealth, a deaf health charity, emphasises that employment barriers are a major obstacle to wellbeing and quality of life for deaf people.

Nathan Draper, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at SignHealth, stresses the need for reform instead of cuts, adding that the government’s formal consultation process failed to be accessible to deaf people, leaving a massive gap in vital community feedback. According to Draper, the current system’s inefficiencies must be urgently addressed to ensure Access to Work genuinely delivers for deaf people and their employers.

The DWP Access to Work scheme officially offers grants for specialist support without affecting other benefits, aiming to level the playing field for disabled workers. The scheme covers things like BSL interpreters and assistive devices, designed to help deaf people engage fully in employment.

However, in practice, delays and administrative hurdles are denying many claimants the timely support they need.

The DWP is just not listening

Campaigners have repeatedly called for the government to listen to deaf users and interpreters alike and to stop undermining the scheme through cutbacks and inaccessibility.

Support organisations like the RNID, Deaf Unity, and the National Deaf Children’s Society provide practical guidance to deaf people on how to navigate DWP Access to Work, but these efforts cannot fix systemic failures.

The Association of Sign Language Interpreters has also voiced concerns about recent government consultations, urging the need for thorough reforms developed with stakeholder input to avoid further damaging outcomes for deaf BSL users and deafblind communities.

This report makes clear that DWP Access to Work is far from fulfilling its promise as a workplace lifeline for deaf people. Instead, it is becoming a barrier, isolating capable and passionate workers by denying them timely communication support.

In the words of William Ogden, a senior coordinator and deaf advocate:

Deaf people can work, we are perfectly capable. But give us that support and we will do the job just as well as everyone else.

The government must wake up to these lived realities and heed calls for reform—not cuts—before more talent is lost, and more livelihoods are broken.

Featured image via the Canary

By Steve Topple

This post was originally published on Canary.