NAO Report on Access to Work- BASE Response

The National Audit Office (NAO) have released their long-awaited report into the Access to Work scheme on 6th Feb 2026. In a press release headlined 'Processing delays and backlogs in Access to Work affect job security and employer finances' they outline several recommendations which they believe will 'strengthen how [the DWP] administers the current scheme, whilst  also planning for improvements that can be implemented in the future' which include: 

Address gaps in administrative and survey data and implement any scheme changes in a way that allows evaluation of effectiveness and value for money.

Update guidance so it aligns more closely with the scheme’s objectives and supports caseworkers to make consistent decisions.

Improve the quality of data collected on case progress and use analytical techniques (such as process mining) to identify and resolve bottlenecks in the customer journey.

Complete the work study to set a new productivity standard and develop an action plan – including innovative approaches – to help case managers meet it.

Whilst we welcome the report and its insights BASE would argue that the pivotal role that Access to Work plays in supporting disabled people and people with long‑term health conditions to secure and sustain employment, remains unrecognised.  For many disabled people, Access to Work is the difference between being able to work or being locked out of employment altogether. 

The significant increase in demand for Access to Work, highlighted by the NAO, is not happening in isolation. It reflects the cumulative impact of austerity, widening health inequalities, and social and economic systems that continue to place barriers in the way of disabled people. When everyday systems, from transport and housing to health and employment practices, are inaccessible, it is entirely predictable that demand for individualised support will rise. Without addressing these issues through the social model of disability, that demand will continue to grow. 

The NAO rightly focuses on the need for improvements within the Department for Work and Pensions, including better processes, greater standardisation and upskilling staff to manage the scheme more effectively. These changes are important and necessary, but they are not sufficient on their own.  

What is missing is a wider national conversation about how serious we are as a country about breaking down barriers to work. Disabled people represent a huge pool of talent, skill and experience within our communities. Unlocking that talent requires more than administrative reform – it requires ambition, leadership and sustained investment. 

If we genuinely want to see improvements in employment outcomes, Access to Work must sit within a fully funded, evidence‑led approach that prioritises barrier removal, not one that is constrained by fitting support into a predetermined financial envelope. This means addressing wider systemic barriers alongside individual support, and recognising that inclusion is not a cost to be managed, but an investment that benefits individuals, employers and the economy as a whole. 

The NAO report should be a catalyst for that broader conversation. The question now is whether we are prepared to act with the urgency and seriousness that disabled people and our labour market deserve. 

NAO Access to Work Report February 2026