VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Access to Work Programme: Staff

Asked by Louise HaighLabourDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 2 December 2025UIN 93762

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff are allocated to processing Access to Work applications; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of that number.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

The current number of case managers allocated to processing Access to Work applications is 307.7 full-time equivalent (FTE).

We are committed to reducing waiting times for Access to Work. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims by 27% and applications from customers who are about to start a job or who are renewing are prioritised.

The Green Paper launched a consultation on the future of Access to Work which has now concluded. We are considering responses to the consultation and will set out our plans in due course.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim