Reform not cuts: SignHealth report calls on government to review Access to Work (BSL)

A new report published today by the campaign ‘deaf together’ shows only 15% of deaf people have had a positive experience with government scheme ‘Access to Work’ and it’s taking too long for claims to be processed and implemented. 

To watch this article in BSL click play below or scroll down to continue in English:

BSL translation of the report:

“Even when I applied for Access to Work three months before I started my new job it still didn’t get approved in time. I started my job without access.” – Asha Hylton, paediatric nurse.

Access to Work is used by a range of disabled people to get into work and stay employed. In 2024, Access to Work recorded that there were 6,090 deaf and hard of hearing claimants. That makes deaf and hard of hearing people the second largest user group of Access to Work, after people who use it for mental health conditions.

Earlier this year the BBC reported businesses employing disabled people say they are owed hundreds of thousands of pounds by the government, and fear they may have to let staff go. 

According to the National Union of British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreters: “The Access to Work system has supported thousands of deaf and deafblind professionals in the UK workforce. The system has become more inefficient due to government cuts and greater demands from a growing workforce. Our members are facing longer and longer delays in being paid, affecting their ability to take on Access to Work assignments due to payment insecurity which in turn impacts deaf and deafblind people’s working life.”

The report also highlights the additional barriers faced by people who are self-employed. 

 “Without this access, we’re unable to fully participate in our work, leading to isolation and loss of opportunities. These cuts not only threaten our livelihoods but also silence diverse voices in the creative industry. We should not be forced to choose between our passion and our ability to communicate. Equal access is a right — not a luxury.” – Nadeem Islam, Associate Artist for Fuse Theatre. 

Asha Hylton, paediatric nurse explained “[Access to Work] always say they want to call me to discuss my application. But I’m deaf, I can’t hear the phone.” Watch Asha’s story here

William Ogden, University Senior Coordinator and Student Caseworker:

 “Deaf people can work, we are perfectly capable of doing whatever it is that we are employed to do. But give us that support and we will do the job just as well as everyone else.” Watch William’s story here

Nathan Draper, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the deaf health charity SignHealth:

“At SignHealth, our vision is a world without barriers to good health and wellbeing for deaf people and employment barriers play an important role in this. 

This report provides insights from deaf people on their lived experiences with Access to Work, recognising the value of it, but also the need for reform in order for it to work. The report also highlights the challenges that communication support workers are facing with an inefficient Access to Work system. The formal Pathways to Work consultation process was not accessible to deaf people, so this report provides the data and insights that were missing from our community. We ask the Government to take notice and recognise that reforms, not cuts, are needed to ensure Access to Work delivers for deaf people and employers.”  

The report is available at https://signhealth.org.uk/resources/research/reform-not-cuts-our-vision-for-access-to-work/