A group of 30 MPs from various political parties has issued a warning that young individuals with disabilities could face difficulties securing employment if changes are implemented to welfare programs. Led by Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, the MPs expressed concerns regarding potential alterations to the Access to Work (ATW) scheme, emphasizing its importance as a crucial support system for young people with learning disabilities and autism. Established in 1994, the ATW scheme aims to assist individuals with disabilities in entering or maintaining employment.
Among the MPs in the group are Jeremy Hunt, Daisy Cooper, Vicky Foxcroft, and Rachel Maskell, who have penned a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary, Pat McFadden, highlighting fears that proposed reforms could lead to a surge in unemployment rates. The MPs stressed the significance of supporting young people in securing sustainable employment, particularly through programs like supported internships.
Recent modifications to Access to Work funding, including a 26-week cap, were flagged as potential risks to supported internships, which follow an academic year structure with a critical final phase. Statistics show that 948,000 individuals aged 16–24 were not engaged in education, employment, or training from April to June 2025, with young people having Education, Health, and Care Plans being 80% more likely to be unemployed than their peers.
The MPs urged the government to reconsider the cap on supported internships within the Access to Work scheme, cautioning that its enforcement could jeopardize the long-term job prospects of young individuals with learning disabilities and autism, ultimately leading to increased youth unemployment nationwide. In response, a spokesperson from the Department for Work and Pensions stated that no alterations had been made to the Access to Work policy, assuring that any changes would be announced prior to implementation and that ongoing reviews were being conducted in collaboration with disabled individuals and their representatives to enhance the scheme.