What to do if you become disabled
If you're in employment and become disabled
Your employer cannot discriminate against you because of your disability - you鈥檙e protected by the Equality Act 2010.
They must also keep your job open for you and cannot put pressure on you to resign just because you鈥檝e become disabled.
Reasonable adjustments
Your employer must make 鈥榬easonable adjustments鈥� for you so that you鈥檙e not disadvantaged compared to non-disabled people.
This could include:
- a phased return to work, for example working flexible hours or part-time
- time off for medical treatment or counselling
- giving another employee tasks you cannot easily do
- providing practical aids and technical equipment for you
Get help from Access to Work
If the help you need at work is not covered by your employer making reasonable adjustments, you may be able to get help from Access to Work.
An Access to Work grant can pay for:
- special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings
- help getting to and from work
- mental health support
- communication support at a job interview (for example, a British Sign Language interpreter or a lipspeaker)
Time off from work
If you鈥檙e an employee and cannot work because of your disability, you may be able to get Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Some employers have their own sick pay scheme instead.
If you still cannot work after 28 weeks, or you cannot get Statutory Sick Pay, you can apply for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Time off from work should not be recorded as an 鈥榓bsence from work鈥� if you鈥檙e waiting for your employer to put reasonable adjustments in place.
Check your employment status if you鈥檙e not sure whether you鈥檙e an employee or not.
Dismissals and redundancy
Your employer cannot dismiss you just because you鈥檝e become disabled.
You can be dismissed if your disability means you cannot do your job even with reasonable adjustments.
You cannot be selected for redundancy just because you鈥檙e disabled.
For advice about work issues, (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), or your trade union representative.