Employment: Disability
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, further to the answer to UIN 92453 of 21 November 2025, what further assessment will be made of the Disability Confident scheme, and what action will be taken to assess employees and applicants experiences as part of this process.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
On 15 January 2026 I announced more details about the reforms to the Disability Confident Scheme.
Proposed changes include:
- Reducing membership duration at Level 1 from three years to two and removing the option to renew at this level to drive progression through the scheme.
- Introducing tailored guidance and proportionate evidence requirements so smaller businesses can participate fully and confidently.
- Expanding peer‑to‑peer support, shared learning, and practical resources to help employers make the most of the scheme.
- Ensuring disabled people’s voices shape scheme guidance and development.
We are planning a proportionate assessment of the different strands of the upcoming reforms: this is likely to include qualitative interviews to get insights from employers and employees, conducting short surveys, and gathering feedback on specific processes and products to iteratively improve and adapt.
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