Proposed Access to Work Changes: What You Need to Know
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.