Disability Benefits

There are 13.9 million people in the UK living with a disability or chronic illness. 1 in 5 people will live with a disability at one point in their lives. Yet, disabled people aged 16 and over are four times more likely to be out of work than their able-bodied counterparts. Not all people with disabilities can work and earn money, so disability benefits and disability grants for people with disabilities become essential.

Disability Benefits help make sure you can live safely and comfortably.

Claiming benefits or grants are very important for people with disabilities. Because they are there to help you live your life as comfortably and as safely as possible. You might not think you need them or are entitled to them, but you still have a right to claim them. They could help you in many ways: from allowing you to work less because of the disability, to helping you pay for any mobility or activities of daily living needs you have.

What Medical Conditions Qualify for Disability Benefits UK and How Do I Know If I Am Disabled?

Many medical conditions qualify for disability benefits and disability grants. The medical conditions must all follow the meaning of disability, as stated in the Equality Act 2010.

According to the UK government website, “Under the Equality Act 2010 in the UK, you are disabled: if you have a physical or mental impairment that is (a) substantial and (b) has a long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal activities.”

It can be scary and nerve-wracking trying to figure out if you qualify as being disabled or not – especially if you are dealing with any new symptoms or long-term health conditions. Please, don’t worry. Let’s see if we can get you the help you need.

Following from the Equality Act 2010s definition, if anything affects your daily life for an extended time, you could be considered disabled. That covers physical disabilities as well as mental impairments. It includes cancer, visual or hearing impairments, severe and long-term disfigurement. It also covers Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Cerebral Palsy, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) as well as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)… And everything in between.

It can be hard to quantify disabilities and long-term health conditions, as they can overlap quite a lot. What might be classed as a physical disability can also cause mental health issues, such as depression or stress. Disabilities considered mental health or learning problems can also cause physical impairments such as pain and fatigue.

If you feel like you are suffering, seek your doctors help in finding a diagnosis. They will be able to help with any medications or care plans that you might need. The internet can be a great place to find people with similar problems. Just be careful not to fall into a search hole. Remember that the same symptom can mean many different things, so don’t always jump to the worst conclusion.

How Much Money Do You Get on Disability UK?

The amount of money you can claim for disability in the UK varies. It can change depending on which benefits you can claim, and how your condition affects you. There isn’t a one fits all when it comes to disabilities or the benefits you can claim. Each case will be taken individually, and different people could claim more than one benefit or grant.

This post will look into the various options of money for people with disabilities. This will be through benefits, grants and ways of working and earning money.

Disability Benefits: Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

From 2017 the UK adult disability benefit changed from the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). However, suppose you are under 16 or born before 8th April 1948 and have an existing DLA claim. In that case, you will continue to receive this until they contact you to switch to PIP. Currently, the pension age is 65 with the possibility of it changing to 68 sometime in the future.

If you are over 16 but are younger than pension age, then you can apply for PIP. You can claim between £23.60 and £150.40 a week. That depends on how your condition affects you, not what the condition is.

A health professional will assess you to work out how much help you should be receiving. That will be reviewed regularly to make sure it is still correct.

Do I Qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?

PIP will look at whether you have a disability or long-term chronic illness. However, they look less at what condition you have, and more at how it affects your everyday life. The government website states that you

• “must have had difficulties with daily living or getting around, or both, for three months and expect it to continue for a further nine months.
• You will need to have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 out of the previous three years.
• There are certain exceptions for living in particular EU and EEA countries or Switzerland.
• You cannot claim PIP and Armed Forces Independence Allowance at the same time.”

There are separate parts that you might be able to claim without claiming the whole sum. They have a section for daily living and mobility.

• You will be eligible for the daily living section if you need help more than half of the time with cooking, eating, communicating, taking medication, washing and dressing. That could give you a rate of either £59.70 or £89.15 a week.
• You will be eligible for the mobility section if you need help going out or getting around. That could give you a rate of either £23.60 or £62.25 a week. If you also claim Constant Attendance Allowance, your daily living rate will be lowered by how much allowance you receive.

Can I Earn Money while on Disability (PIP)?

You can claim PIP even if you have savings, are working or studying. And it is a tax-free income. You will receive PIP payments every 4 weeks. The dates will be told to you in your acceptance letter. All benefits will be paid into your stated bank account, building society or credit union account.

How to Apply for PIP

You can apply for PIP in various ways. You can call the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), by textphone or by post. You can find all their various numbers and addresses here. They will then send you a form to fill out in whatever format works best for you. After you return it, they will assess if any further information is needed and if an independent health professional needs to make a call with you.

There is a different way to claim if you are terminally ill. On your behalf, you or someone will need to call the DWP to begin the process, request a DS1500 from a doctor, and then send it off. You will receive a claim result much quicker.

You must notify the DWP whenever you have a change in circumstance – such as name or address change, a change in your condition, or if you are out of the country for more than four weeks. Not notifying a change of circumstance could lead to you paying a civil penalty of £50 and repaying any money you should not have received.

Disability Benefits

Disability Benefits: Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help people on low-incomes or out of work with living costs. It has taken over from other benefits such as Working Tax Credit.

Suppose you have a health condition or disability. In that case, you might get an extra amount of Universal Credit if your health condition/ disability prevents you from working – or preparing for work. Your monthly payment is based on your circumstances. For example, your health condition or disability, income and housing costs.

However, you will not receive Universal Credit if you are claiming a Disability Premium. The extra amount can be added to various benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Housing Benefit.

Disability Benefits: Carer’s Allowance

With Carers Allowance, you could be eligible to claim £67.25 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and the person gets certain benefits such as PIP, DLA or Attendance Allowance.

You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person. If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.

You must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone. You must not be in full-time education, nor studying for 21 hours a week or more. And your earnings must be £128 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses.

You can claim Carers Allowance for yourself even if you are disabled yourself and receiving benefits. As long as you fit the carers allowance eligibility, you can still claim it. If you claim certain other benefits such as Maternity Allowance, you might not claim Carers Allowance or might receive less.

Disability Benefits: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects your ability to work.

It will give you money for living costs as well as support to get you back into work. You can apply for ESA if you are employed, unemployed or self-employed. You must be working only 16 hours a week and only earning £140 per week.

To claim ESA, you must have both been an employee or been self-employed and have enough National Insurance in the last 2 to 3 years. You cannot receive ESA and Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) at the same time. But you can apply while you are claiming SSP and your ESA will start when your SSP ends.

You may not be able to apply if you have savings. If you are eligible, then you can claim between £74.35 and 113.55 a week. Depending on your ESA amount, you might be able to also still claim Universal Credit.

Disability Benefits: Constant Attendance Allowance

You can claim Constant Attendance Allowance if you get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit can be claimed if you have become ill or disabled, due to an accident at work. Or on a War Disablement Pension. And you also need daily care and attention because of a disability.

You can get between £36.40 and £145.60 a week. How much you get depends on your condition and the amount of care you need.

Financial Help for Elderly Disabled People

Disability Benefits: Attendance Allowance

If you are of pension age and have a severe disability, you can apply for Attendance Allowance. Depending on your condition, you can claim £59.70 or £89.15 per week. That doesn’t cover mobility needs, but can help with other support. It could also increase your other benefits.

You can claim the lower amount if you need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night. You can claim the upper amount if you need help or supervision throughout both day and night, or are terminally ill.

Like all benefits, you must update them with any changes of circumstance such as name or address change, a change in your condition or if you are out of the country for more than four weeks.

According to the .gov website, eligibility for Attendance Allowance:

• ‘you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both
• your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety
• you have needed that help for at least six months (unless you’re terminally ill)
• for the terminally ill, you must be expected to live for 6 months

You must also:

• be in Great Britain when you claim – there are some exceptions, such as members and family members of the armed forces
• have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
• be a habitual resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
• not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant).’

You should only need an assessment if it is unclear how your condition affects you.

To apply, you can find an application form here. Or you can call the Attendance Allowance Helplines:
Telephone: 0800 731 0122
Textphone: 0800 731 0317
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0122
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm

Disability Benefits: Income Support

Income support can help many people on low-incomes. Still, suppose you have received or are entitled to the severe disability premium. In that case, you may be eligible for income support.

This benefit has many things that can affect it, such as savings, how much you earn, and your partner. However, you could be eligible to between £58.90 and £116.80.

Grants for Students with Disabilities

Disability Grants: Disabled Student Allowances

The Disabled Student Allowances can cover some of the extra costs you may have due to your disability. You do not need to pay this back, and you can claim it on top of any other student finance.

Your eligibility will be taken on the basis of your needs, not your household income. This can pay for specialist equipment such as computers, non-medical helpers and any travel incurred due to your disability.

You can claim from £1,945 a year up to £22,603 a year. You will go through a needs assessment and provide proof from a doctor, of your disability.

Disability Grants: Snowdon Trust Grants and Scholarships

This is more of grant run by the Snowdon Trust for disabled students.

They provide grants to disabled students to cover costs for any extras not covered by student loans or benefits, such as interpreters, adapted equipment or additional accommodation for a 24-hour carer.

They also run scholarships for disabled people looking to further their education with a masters course.

Disability Grant Money

What are Grants for Disabled People?

There are a few ways government schemes or organisations who offer disabled grants in the UK. Disability Grants in the UK are a financial donation that you do not have to repay. These can help with many different things in the life of someone living with ill health or disability. You can get money to help with making adjustments to your home or for going on holiday.

Grants tend to be specific to charities and to the area where you live, so finding general grants can be quite tricky. However, websites such as Turn2Us have put everything together and set up an easy search page to find the grants available to you.

Housing Grants for Disabled People and Disability Grants for Home Improvement

Disability Grant Money: Foundations

Foundations is the national body for Home Improvement Agencies. They can help disabled people and those on low-incomes to adapt or repair their homes.

Their services are not free after the initial consultation. Still, they will help you determine if you are entitled to any money or grants.

Disability Grant Money: Disabled Facilities Grants

The Disabled Facilities Grant is an adaptation grant for disabled people, who might need changes or extensions made to their home.

This could include widening doors, adding ramps, improving access to rooms such as stairlifts or installing a disabled downstairs bathroom. Or adapting lighting controls and heating.

This grant will not affect any of your other benefits. It is only available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Scotland offers some help and advice when it comes to adapting your home. You can find the applications here or visit the Care and Repair Scotland website for more advice.

For the Disabled Facilities Grant, you can claim between £25,000 and £36,000, but it’s based on your home’s income and savings. You can apply if:

• you or the person you live with is disabled
• you own or rent the property in question
• you plan to live there for five years.

Landlords can also apply for the grant on behalf of a disabled tenant.

Holiday Grants for Disabled People

Companies such as 3H Helping Hands for Holidays offer grants that help reduce accommodation costs in the UK for low-income families with a disabled family member. They also provide pamper days for carers.

3H can help subsidise group holidays for people with disabilities where they can offer daily care and different activities. They organise various trips and holidays throughout the year, to give disabled people some independence – and their carers a little respite.

Disability Equipment Grants

Disability Equipment Grants: British Wireless for the Blind Fund

The British Wireless for the Blind Fund provides adapted radios to those with sight loss. They have been working for over 90 years. To be eligible for this grant, you:

• must live in the UK
• be over 8 years old
• be registered or registerable blind or partially sighted
• and you or your guardian must receive a means-tested benefit

If you are not eligible, then you can use them to purchase an adapted radio VAT free.

Disability Equipment Grants: Independence at Home

The Independence at Home organisation work to improve the independence of people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, by offering grants up to £500. That is to go towards mobility aids. Or other essential items such as kitchen equipment.

Disability Equipment Grants: Telephones for the Blind

Telephones for the Blind aim to help blind people have access to telephones. They try to keep up with new models of home and mobile phones. And will help pay for any telephone line rental. Their eligibility criteria are that you are:

• registered blind or partially sighted,
• that you are living alone, are often alone, or living with a partner also handicapped by disability or age,
• living in your own room in a Care Home,
• cannot be expected to afford a telephone from own or family resources.

Disability Equipment Grants: Wavelength

Wavelength helps provide technology such as phones, televisions and computers to people fighting loneliness due to age, disability or poor physical or mental health. They believe that technology offers a valuable window into the world. You will be asked to fill in a form to apply, to ask you questions about your eligibility.

Grants for Disabled Adults

All of the grants mentioned here should be available to you if you fit the necessary criteria. There are additional grants available to disabled adults; however, they are often specific to a location. The best place to check is the Disability Grant website. They show you many different grants available in your area.

Often the best place to start is with your local council. Or to ask your local Citizens Advice Bureau to see what you are entitled to.

Heating Grants for Disabled

Specific central heating grants for disabled people are available, through independent organisations or the government. However, individual energy suppliers offer different grants or packages, depending on your ability to pay.

Check the Citizens Advice Bureau’s website where they have an energy supplier comparison service.

Heating Grants for Disabled: Independent Living Trust

The Independent Living Trust is also run by the Foundations organisation mentioned earlier. They provide funding for the installation and heating work, for people affected by the cold and damp. That can include people with respiratory conditions, cancer, mobility issues or mental health problems.

Heating Grants for Disabled: Cold Weather Payment

This government scheme could give you £25 towards your heating bill. That is for every 7-day period that the weather reaches below zero degrees, between November and March.

You can claim this payment if you also receive ESA, Universal Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Heating Grants for Disabled: Warm House Discount Scheme

This scheme could give you a sum of £140 towards your electricity bill for Winter. That can also be paid to a gas company, if they provide your gas and electricity.

You can be eligible for this scheme if you are a low-income household, and meet your energy providers criteria.

Boiler Grants for Disabled People

Suppose you have a low-income household and are in receipt of certain benefits. In that case, your energy supplier may have schemes that can repair or replace your boiler if it breaks down.

Having a working boiler is necessary for everyone, but it can be imperative for certain disabilities. A new energy-efficient boiler can also help you save up to £300 a year.

Grants for Disabled Business Start-Up

Grants for Disabled Business Start-Up: Blind Business Association Charitable Trust (BBACT)

The BBACT aim to help you if you are a blind or partially sighted entrepreneur. They offer information and support to those starting up their own business. As well as providing mentor support throughout their business set-up.

They can also provide grants to help you get started.

Grants for Disabled Business Start-Up: Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs

This grant is run by Leonard Cheshire and the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. If you are a disabled entrepreneur, you can win up to £30,000 for your business. Previous winners have created apps for mental health, portable solutions for disabled travellers, and new types of wheelchairs. That could be a significant boost to any business that is starting or already running.

Grants for Disabled Business Start-Up: UnLtd

UnLtd offers grants and support to social entrepreneurs, so anyone with solutions to change our society for the better.  They can help you if you are just starting out or scaling your business up. Their previous entrepreneurs have started foundations to increase equality for women, install a living wage, and boost the mental health of the elderly.

Grants for Disabled Business Start-Up: The Princes Trust

Although it isn’t disability-specific, The Princes Trust can offer grants and support for many different businesses. They can also provide funding for training and further education.

Disability Help UK

Disability Help UK: VAT Relief for Disabled People

VAT Relief for Disabled People

If you have a disability, then you do not need to pay VAT on items designed or adapted for your use. This could include adjustable beds, wheelchairs and medical appliances. You will also not have to pay VAT on installing or maintaining your mobility and disability aids.

Disability Help UK: Television Licence

Television Licence

You can get 50% off the cost of a TV licence if you are registered blind or severely sight impaired, or live with someone who is.

Disability Help UK: Water Costs

If your disability causes you to use more water than average, you may get a cap on your water costs. If you contact your water supplier, they will tell you what they offer, as each is different.

They will usually install a water meter for free, which should help keep your water costs down.

Disability Help UK: Medicine

Medicine

The NHS offers medical exemption certificates to certain conditions meaning you do not have to pay for prescriptions.

That covers some forms of diabetes, Addison’s disease, cancer and certain physical disabilities that stops you going out alone.

Disability Help UK: Phone and Broadband

Phone and Broadband

Suppose you have a low-income household and are claiming certain benefits. In that case, BT can offer cheaper phone and broadband packages that start from £5.10 a month.

Disability Help UK: Family Fund

Family Fund

Family Fund is an organisation that helps low-income families who are raising a disabled child. They can award grants, help with technology as well as family breaks. These grants can help pay for white goods, adapted equipment or clothing. When you apply, you will need proof that you receive benefits.

Disability Help UK: Council Tax

 Council Tax

If you have a disability, you might be eligible for one of a few schemes that can reduce or remove council tax. Council tax will not include someone with a disability or a live-in carer, and you might be able to claim a single person discount, reducing council tax by a quarter.

If you can show that you need a larger home, with extra rooms or space due to your disability, then you might be able to put your home into a lower council tax band. Each council operates their own schemes to help low-income households. You may be eligible to a lower council tax.

Help with Travel for Disabled People

Help with Travel for Disabled People: Blue Badge

 Blue Badge

If you struggle with your mobility, you can apply for a Blue Badge, that allows you to park closer to where you need to go. You will need to check with your local council for how much you need to pay for a badge and how they like you to apply for one.

You might automatically qualify for a blue badge if you are blind or claim certain benefits. You do not need to receive benefits to claim a blue badge. There are various disabilities and illnesses that it covers. You will be asked to provide proof of any hidden disabilities or illnesses when you apply.

The badge is linked to you rather than a vehicle so you can use it in any car.

Help with Travel for Disabled People: Motability

Motability

The Motability scheme is a disability grant for a car or other types of vehicle. It allows you to exchange your higher rate mobility allowance for leasing a car, scooter, powered wheelchair or wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Payments will be taken directly from your DLA or PIP every four weeks. Each lease is usually taken for three or five years, and Motability takes care of any insurance, maintenance or breakdown cover.

If you have a driving licence and develop a notifiable condition, you must inform the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency. These are anything that could affect your ability to drive safely. They can include:

• Diabetes or taking insulin
• heart conditions
• syncope (fainting)
• Sleep apnoea
• epilepsy
• strokes
• glaucoma

Help with Travel for Disabled People: Bus Pass

Depending on where in the UK you live, you could be eligible to free bus travel. Visit the government website here to take you to the application for a bus pass in England, Scotland or Wales.

Help with Travel for Disabled People: Trains

With a Disabled Persons Railcard, you can get a third off your train tickets.

This card costs £20 for one year or £54 for three years. You can purchase one from the railcard website here.

There are a few extra things that can help while travelling with a disability such as the Thistle Assistance Card in Scotland and the ‘Please Give Me A Seat’ badge in London. These allow you to get the proper seats on buses and trains and ensure you receive the help and care you need.

Help with Moving Costs for Disabled People

Moving comes with all sorts of hassle as well as costs. You can reach out to your local council who may offer grants or help to those in need that are moving. Individual moving companies also offer interest-free loans or grants to help with moving costs.

You can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help pay for upfront rental costs, if you receive certain benefits.

Charities That Help Disabled People

There are many charities throughout the UK that help disabled people. Some are nationwide with locations that work more locally, and some will be local only.

There is a high chance that there will be a charity out there that works specifically with your disability or chronic illness. Here are some of the leading charities that work with disabled people.

Charities That Help Disabled People: Leonard Cheshire, Scope and Disability Rights UK

Leonard Cheshire, Scope and Disability Rights UK are charities that focus on general disability. They each are fighting for equality and the rights of disabled people throughout the country.

They have various campaigns running during the year that look at different injustices in the world of disability. They are run by people with disabilities from the top down and often offer other help, such as the Leonard Cheshire care homes.

Charities That Help Disabled People: Action for Kids

Action for Kids is a charity that focuses on the welfare of disabled children and young people. They aim to help disabled children and young people, live independent and fulfilling lives.

Charities That Help Disabled People: British Deaf Association

British Deaf Association is a UK charity run by, and for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They raise awareness for deaf people and British Sign Language (BSL).

They also offer assistance to companies to provide better access to BSL.

Charities That Help Disabled People: National Autistic Society

The  National Autistic Society is one of the UK’s leading charities for autism. They raise awareness for autism, run campaigns, and offer support services for people with autism. They can help guide you through diagnosis for yourself or a loved one and looking at autism in the workplace.

Charities That Help Disabled People: Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is one of the UK’s leading charities for blind or partially sighted people. They are a community for people with similar conditions. They have support systems in place for people who are blind. There, they offer advice about different conditions, help you get sorted with technology, or tell you what benefits you are entitled to.

They also have support for businesses, so that you can support blind customers. The RNIB run a radio station as well as create talking books.

Emergency Help for Disabled People

Emergency Help for Disabled People: Local Councils

In times of emergency, your local council may be able to help you. You can go to them if you have been injured or have become disabled.

They can also help carers or if you have experienced a fire, flooding or domestic violence.

Emergency Help for Disabled People: Mind

If you are suffering with your mental health, you can reach out to many organisations who want to help you.

Mind offer a lot of information and support for many different types of mental health conditions.

Emergency Help for Disabled People: The Samaritans

If you feel that everything is just too much, please reach out to The Samaritans who are always there to help you, even just to chat.

You can call them on 116 123 for free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How Can I Make Money on Disability?

For some benefits, there are no rules against making money while claiming disability. That opens you up to earning your own money.

Of course, your disability might not allow you to work at all. But if you can, here are some ideas on how to make money with a disability.

How to Make Money When You Are Disabled

It is still possible to make money while disabled. Depending on your condition and the rules of the benefits you claim, you can do whatever you want.

Most jobs can allow for your disability if they knew about it, or understand how to help. However, this is not the case for all.

Other ways that you can make money when you are disabled are:

• Becoming a freelancer. If you have a skill such as writing or graphic design, you can sell your skills on websites such as PeoplePerHour. No digital skills? No problem – Learn how to here
• Selling art or handmade goods on sites like Etsy. That is a way to make money online for disabled people.
• You can even look into whether any charities are hiring. This is particularly useful if it is a disability charity or one that focuses on your disability.
• Other things you can look into are internships. These can be a stepping stone to something more. 

The charity Leonard Cheshire run the Change100 programme every summer that allows a disabled or chronically ill person who is about to or has recently graduated to take on a three-month internship.

Going through this programme gives you a go-between, between you and your new employer. It gives you the skills to ask for the help you need within the job and work experience.

Also, following disabled bloggers and Instagrammers can give you so much information, not only about your disability but for other topics such as work. Pippa @lifeofpippa and Natasha @natashalipman often have conversations with other disabled people around various topics.

What are the Best Jobs for Disabled People?

The best job for disabled people is whatever you can do, that won’t make your disability or illness worse.

It needs to be something that you can work around your specific needs.

That could mean working a regular 9-5 job, five days a week – but from home. Or it could mean knowing that if you have a bad day, you can take the day off and come back better the next day. Or could simply be knowing that you can manoeuvre around your workplace building, with your mobility aid.

The good news is that new industries are coming up – especially digital industries and green, climate-friendly industries. And already existing ones are changing, with hiring practices changing along with them.

As a result, there are more opportunities and less discrimination against people with physical disabilities. And lots more jobs, offering better disability-friendly workspaces available.

How Can a Disabled Person Find a Job

Often your local Job Centre can be the best place to start, when looking for work. They will be able to assess what you can do. If you want to search for yourself, then look out for companies with the Disability Confident badge. That means that they are aware of disabilities, and can accommodate anything you might need.

Keep an eye on charity websites for disabilities or your specific condition. They might be looking for staff or people for internships.

Also, following social media accounts – as mentioned above – can help you look into the right jobs. Or they might post about specific roles that have become available.

Hopefully, there will be more opportunities for people to work from home, now that companies are realising that is possible, as seen during the 2020 pandemic.

There are a few other options to help you into a new job or career, such as the Access to Work Scheme and the Intensive Personalised Employment Support.

How Can a Disabled Person Find a Job: Access to Work

Access to Work

You can get help through Access to Work if you have a disability or a physical or mental condition that affects your ability to work.

You can talk to your employer about what they need to change for you to do your job. These are called reasonable adjustments, and cover things like needing your own desk due to anxiety or needing a ramp put in for your wheelchair.

Once you have spoken to your employer, you can contact Access to Work, and they can help you organise any grants you might need.

How Can a Disabled Person Find a Job: Intensive Personalised Employment Support

Intensive Personalised Employment Support provides help if you are disabled, unemployed and living in England or Wales.

They will supply you with a support worker who will go through what work you can do with your condition, help you match your skills with available jobs, and get you any training you might need.

They help build a personal support network between you and your workplace. You will receive 15 months with your support worker and six months when you find employment.

Conclusion

If you live with a disability or chronic illness, I hope this post has shown you that you are not alone. And that there is help in the form of Disability Benefits, Disability Grants and  Disability Employment Support out there for you.

You can also visit this government website that walks you through what you might do after diagnosis.

Finally, I hope that you have gotten some useful tips for finding work with your disability. There should be a fulfilling job out there for everyone who wants to work, including people with a disability.