I hope you had a decent break over Christmas and New Year, or at least found a bit of breathing space somewhere. I went into the holiday with very ambitious plans to catch up on all sorts of work projects. Inevitably, my fatigue had other ideas. After a few days of properly stopping, resting and doing very little, I started to enjoy it far more than I expected.
That rest came with a cost. I’ve come back to work feeling quite behind and, if I’m honest, a bit overwhelmed by how full things already are. But I’ve also come back with renewed enthusiasm and resilience for navigating difficult conversations, tricky systems and the realities of Access to Work (AtW) as it is right now.
December also brought something I’m genuinely excited about. I was voted in as a Trustee of Bristol Disability Equality Forum, a Disabled-led organisation doing important work locally. I’m really looking forward to getting properly stuck in, learning from the rest of the board and contributing in a more strategic way.
As we head into 2026, there is a lot happening in the AtW space and a lot on my own calendar too. This newsletter is here to help you stay up to date with what’s going on, flag where you might want to dig into more detail, and remind you that if you are stuck or unsure, you can always reach out to me or my team.
Quick tips
- Self-employed and applying for or renewing Access to Work? You’ll need to provide an SA100 Self Assessment tax return to show eligibility. AtW does not accept documents generated through accounting software such as FreeAgent. If you have an application or renewal coming up, contact HMRC and ask them to post you a copy of your submitted SA100. If you have a choice in future, submitting directly through the HMRC portal can make this easier.
- Getting cut off when calling the helpline?
If your call drops repeatedly, try again later or choose a different option from the automated menu. This is a common technical issue and not something you are doing wrong
December 2025 Access to Work news
December was quieter than usual for AtW, particularly in the second half of the month as things slowed down for Christmas and New Year.
11 December 2025 – Access to Work Collective publishes 2025 Impact Report
The Access to Work Collective published its 2025 Impact Report, reflecting on a year of community organising, media work and engagement with policymakers. The report brings together lived experience, campaigning activity and evidence about how AtW is functioning in practice.
Read the Impact Report on LinkedIn
17 December 2025 – FOI refusal: Access to Work Collaboration Committee minutes
On 17 December, I received a response to my Freedom of Information (FOI) request asking for the minutes of the AtW Collaboration Committee meetings. The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed the information is held, but refused to release it under Section 35 of the Freedom of Information Act, which relates to the development of government policy.
While the response acknowledges a strong public interest in transparency, I do not agree with the reasoning used to justify withholding the information. I am currently seeking advice on the strongest grounds to challenge this refusal.
Read the full FOI request and response here
18 December 2025 – RNID and DeafATW launch survey on Deaf, Deafblind and hearing-impaired people’s experiences of Access to Work (deadline 16 January)
RNID and DeafATW launched a survey focused on the experiences of Deaf, Deafblind and hearing-impaired people using AtW, with particular attention to communication and accessibility. This is an important opportunity to contribute evidence about how the scheme works in practice.
Take part in the survey here (deadline 16 January)
18 December 2025 – Access to Work Collective end-of-year community session
The Access to Work Collective also held an end-of-year community session, bringing together disabled people, practitioners and allies to reflect on the year and discuss priorities going forward.
You can read more about the session on the Access to Work Collective’s LinkedIn page.
December 2025 – Parliamentary questions on Access to Work
Throughout December, a significant number of written parliamentary questions were asked about AtW, covering issues including decision-making, funding, delays and how policy is being applied in practice.
Rather than list each question here, it is worth noting that more than two dozen questions were submitted during the month. You can browse and search all written questions and answers on the UK Parliament website.
Simply click the blue text above to read each article.
What’s coming up (January to March)
Below is a list of public events I’m involved in over the next few months. This does not include private training, consultancy work or closed events.
January
Wednesday 14 January – LinkedIn Live with Devon Lowndes and Hazel Lowndes
A session aimed primarily at employers and managers, focusing on accessibility, disability and AtW in practice.
More information here
February
Friday 6 February, 12–1 – NeuroRocket Access to Work Info Session 1: Before you apply
Aimed at neurodivergent individuals, and also useful for employers and people who support others with AtW.
Book here
As with previous NeuroRocket sessions, customers can also access funded 1:1 support. This support is designed for people who need help with their specific situation, rather than general information.
Tuesday 10 February – UWE Careers Fair
I’ll be speaking at the University of the West of England careers fair, aimed at UWE students, about support for moving into employment if you are disabled or neurodivergent. I’ll be around afterwards for informal 1:1 conversations.
Wednesday 18 February, 11–12 – Clear Links webinar: Successful Workplace Support
An employer-focused webinar exploring what effective workplace support looks like in practice. I’ll be contributing a session on AtW and how it fits into wider support approaches.
If you’re interested, please contact Katie Linsky at Clear Links:
katie.linsky@clear-links.co.uk
March
Friday 6 March, 12–1 – NeuroRocket Access to Work Info Session 1: Before you apply
This session runs monthly and is aimed at neurodivergent individuals, as well as employers and people who support others.
Book here
10–11 March – Health and Wellbeing at Work Conference, NEC Birmingham
I’ll be attending to listen, learn and connect. If you’re going and would like to meet for a chat or a coffee, feel free to get in touch.
https://healthwellbeingwork.co.uk/
25–26 March – Naidex, NEC Birmingham
I’ll also be attending Naidex to attend talks and meet people. Very happy to arrange conversations while there.
https://www.naidex.co.uk/
Friday 27 March, 12–1 – NeuroRocket Access to Work Info Session 3: Using and managing your grant
This session focuses on what happens after your award is in place.
Book here
Spotlight on…
More Than Reasonable
More Than Reasonable is a UK-wide research and policy project bringing together evidence, lived experience and practical tools to help workplaces make reasonable adjustments that actually work.
Reasonable adjustments are an area many people struggle with. Disabled individuals are often unsure what they can ask for or how to ask. Employers frequently feel uncertain about how to decide what is reasonable, what processes to follow, or how to move beyond fear-driven decision-making.
This project sits between rights, policy and practice, focusing on what makes adjustments effective in real workplaces rather than treating them as a tick-box exercise. It is particularly useful for employers, policymakers, educators and practitioners who want to build confidence and capability, not just compliance.
Introducing Stacey
If you’ve been refused AtW support, had an award reduced, or feel a decision doesn’t reflect your needs or the evidence you provided, this is specialist support for that stage of the process.
Stacey Middleton works with me to deliver focused support around challenging AtW decisions. She specialises in reconsiderations and complaints, helping disabled and neurodivergent people push back where decisions are flawed, poorly reasoned or unfair.
Stacey’s work sits within my wider AtW practice. She is trained and closely supervised by me, and we work together to make sure advice is accurate, robust and grounded in both guidance and lived experience.
In practical terms, Stacey supports people through booked advice sessions, helping them identify where decisions have gone wrong, prepare clear challenges and engage confidently with Case Managers. This is often the point where people feel most worn down by the system, and where having the right support can make a real difference.
Stacey’s focus is specifically on challenging decisions, rather than broader application support. Advice sessions are available in 30-, 60- or 90-minute slots.
You can read more and book support via my website here.
That’s all for now
See you next month,
Alice 😊
P.S. Missed an issue of the newsletter? You can catch up in my newsletter archive.