You might have seen recent headlines about proposed changes to Access to Work (AtW). These changes, outlined in the UK Government’s Pathways to Work Green Paper, are deeply concerning – especially for disabled creatives and freelancers.
We know many of our members rely on Access to Work to make their practice sustainable – whether that’s through support workers, assistive tech, travel help, or mental health support. It’s not a luxury. It’s what makes working possible for many of us.
The proposed reforms risk:
- Making it harder to qualify for support
- Reassessing existing claims more frequently
- Increasing bureaucracy
- And potentially reducing or capping awards
This would disproportionately affect disabled people working in the cultural sector – a sector already facing inequality, burnout, and precarity.
What can you do?
We recommend reading Disability Arts Online’s clear and thoughtful explainer about what’s happening and what it could mean:
Disability Arts Online – Access to Work: Changes and Actions 2025
They also include ways you can get involved – including signing an open letter and sharing your experience.
If you currently receive Access to Work, or hope to apply, we know this news may feel overwhelming. We’ll be keeping a close eye on developments and doing what we can to raise awareness of how these changes could affect our community.