Today I met Sir Stephen Timms at an Innovate UK event following his speech.
I was encouraged to hear that he will be looking at Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and that a steering group of 12 disabled people has been appointed as part of that process. Representation and lived experience matter when reform is being considered.
I also handed him my Access to Work case study and hope he will review it and come back to me.
But this is not just about my case.
It is about a pattern.
A Common Set of Issues Emerging
Through Blind Ambition, I work closely with more than 200 blind and Partially Sighted People of working age in our WhatsApp employment community. Increasingly, I am hearing the same themes:
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Long renewal delays
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Reduced awards without change in circumstances
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Inconsistent interpretations between case managers
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Financial instability while waiting for decisions
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Limited clarity around start-up or self-employed provisions
These experiences are not isolated frustrations.
They now mirror the findings of Parliament’s independent public spending watchdog.
What the National Audit Office Found
In February 2026, the National Audit Office published its report on the Access to Work scheme the-access-to-work-scheme.
Key findings include:
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109 working days average processing time (November 2025)
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62,100 applications awaiting decision at 31 March 2025
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Significant growth in backlogs
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Reduced awards on renewal following tighter internal guidance (Part One, para 1.22)
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Inconsistency in decision-making and alignment with policy intent (Part One, para 1.13)
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A sharp increase in reconsiderations (1,575 in 2024–25)
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Structural budget pressures due to Departmental Expenditure Limit funding (Part Two, para 2.10)
The NAO also confirmed that delays have led to hardship, job insecurity and financial instability for disabled workers (Part Three, paras 3.5–3.6).
These are not advocacy claims. They are independently documented findings.
My Own Experience
My case study, which I handed directly to Sir Stephen today Seema Flower reflects many of the same systemic pressures identified by the NAO.
I experienced:
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A significant renewal delay
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A substantial reduction in support without any improvement in my condition
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Financial instability caused by uncertainty
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Different interpretations from different case managers
As a blind entrepreneur running multiple viable enterprises — including an accessibility consultancy and a social enterprise focused on reducing the 75% unemployment rate among visually impaired people — support worker assistance is not optional. It is operational infrastructure.
When support is delayed or drastically reduced, business continuity is directly affected.
Why This Matters Beyond One Case
Access to Work was designed to enable employment.
The NAO recognises the scheme has clear benefits — but also confirms that it is not currently delivering consistently or efficiently
the-access-to-work-scheme
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When processing times reach 109 working days against a 25-day target, the issue becomes structural.
When renewal reductions occur without change in circumstances, confidence erodes.
When reconsiderations rise sharply, administrative strain increases.
When the backlog cannot realistically be reduced without policy change or additional budget (Part Three, para 3.18), reform becomes unavoidable.
The Broader Context
Earlier in my advocacy work, I spoke at the House of Lords about the barriers facing disabled entrepreneurs and the structural risks created by delayed or inconsistent support.
Today’s conversation at Innovate UK sits within that same context.
I was genuinely encouraged to hear that lived experience is being formally embedded into reform discussions on PIP. The same principle must apply to Access to Work.
Reform must be grounded in operational reality.
Moving Forward
I hope Sir Stephen reviews my case study.
More importantly, I hope that the systemic issues identified by the National Audit Office are addressed in a way that restores:
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Predictability
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Consistency
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Timeliness
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Confidence
Blind and Partially Sighted People do not lack ambition.
What we need is a system that works reliably enough for us to plan, employ staff, sign contracts and grow businesses without fear that essential support will suddenly disappear.
Access to Work should be an enabler of employment.
At present, for many in our community, it feels increasingly fragile.
Quote from Seema Flower
“Access to Work should give disabled entrepreneurs confidence to grow. When decisions are delayed or inconsistent, that confidence disappears. Reform must restore predictability.”
— Seema Flower
Managing Director, Blind Ambition
