The National Autistic Society has responded to the Autumn Statement and the Government’s response to the Workplace Capability Assessments (WCA).

Tim Nicholls, Head of Influencing and Research at the National Autistic Society, said: “What the Chancellor announced in the Autumn Statement will do nothing to help address key issues autistic people face: record waits for diagnosis, a chronic lack of local social care services and mental health support, and parents having to fight too long for too little support for autistic students.  

“Stricter rules on benefit claimants do not address the root causes of the low employment for autistic people. Whilst some are unable to, most autistic people want to work but there isn’t enough support. Autistic people face the lowest employment rate of disabled adults with just 29% of adults in work.   

“It is concerning that the Government is still pursuing changes to the Workplace Capability Assessments (WCA) process. We have heard from autistic people how these proposals have caused severe stress and anxiety. We are pleased that the DWP has announced it will reverse plans to remove the Social Engagement questions in the WCA. This was a damaging proposal which would have deprived autistic people of essential benefits.  

“However, the remaining changes to the process will still have a significant impact on the mental health and livelihoods of autistic people already feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis. 

“The Chancellor stated that a rise in flexible working represented a new opportunity for disabled people to enter the workplace. Whilst flexible working practices can be extremely helpful for autistic people, there are not enough of these jobs available. Just 16% of working adults, and 18% of disabled workers, work exclusively at home. Furthermore, less than one in 20 people earning under £20,000 are able to work exclusively from home. The small number of working from home jobs available are not enough to meaningfully change the work experience of autistic people. 

“The Government needs to do more to create an employment system that works for autistic people. The plans announced today will not do that and instead simply add pressure on autistic people who have been left without support for too long.”