VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Access to Work Programme: Hearing Aids

Asked by Lorraine BeaversLabourDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 20 March 2026UIN 120205

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received funding through an Access to Work grant to purchase hearing aids in the last 12 months.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

Although the Department holds information on the specific types of support for which Access to Work payments are made, data which would allow payments for ‘hearing aids’ to be identified is not readily available. The data is recorded as descriptive free-text information and extracting it would require manual review of individual records, incurring disproportionate cost.

Statistics on the number of people receiving Access to Work payments by readily available element and support worker categories are published annually in Table PAY02 of the Access to Work official statistics: Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.

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