Disabled Journalist Faces 80% Cut to Access to Work Support, Fears Job Loss
A disabled journalist has raised alarm over what she describes as "secret cuts" to the Access to Work scheme, which could jeopardize her employment. Emily Davison, who is legally blind, has seen her Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Access to Work support reduced by a staggering 80 per cent, despite no official changes to the program's guidelines.
Sudden Reduction in Support Worker Hours
Speaking exclusively to the Big Issue magazine, Ms Davison disclosed that her support worker hours were abruptly cut from 37 per week to just eight last month. This drastic reduction has left her "distraught" and concerned about her ability to maintain her job in a newsroom, where Access to Work previously enabled her to secure and perform her role effectively.
"It was a real shock to me, but only that, it was a real kind of blow to me and my support worker," she explained. "I've worked with him for a really long time and he's lost his income. He's a carer. What's he supposed to do?"
No Official Policy Change Despite Reports
The Big Issue has reported that while there have been numerous accounts of support reductions reaching up to 80 per cent, the DWP has not formally altered the Access to Work guidance. Ms Davison expressed confusion and frustration over this discrepancy, stating, "They're claiming that they haven't changed the guidelines. But I don't see how they can claim that ... when my support has dropped so severely but my needs haven't changed."
Broader Implications for Disabled Workers
Roisin Jacklin, policy lead at RNIB, highlighted wider issues within the scheme, noting that some individuals face waits of over nine months for support, putting their jobs at risk. Additionally, when support is renewed, hours and rates for support workers are often cut, creating further instability for those in employment.
Ms Davison warned of the potential consequences if such cuts continue: "People who are disabled, they're not going to be able to sustain this. If they're having their hours and their support and grants cut, they're going to be losing their jobs."
She also pointed out a contradiction in government policy, adding, "If the government is putting pressure on disabled people to, as they say, get out of benefits and into work, well then there has to be contingency that they can actually do that."
This situation underscores growing concerns about the sustainability of support systems for disabled employees and the need for transparency in government welfare programs.
