Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010

    You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.

    The Equality Act 2010 doesn’t apply to Northern Ireland – find out more on NI Direct..

    What ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ mean

    • ‘substantial’ is more than minor or trivial – eg it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed

    • ‘long-term’ means 12 months or more – eg a breathing condition that develops as a result of a lung infection

    There are special rules about recurring or fluctuating conditions, for example, arthritis. For more details about the special rules download the ‘Equality Act Guidance’.

    Download ‘Equality Act Guidance’ (PDF, 789KB)

    Progressive conditions

    A progressive condition is a condition that gets worse over time. People with progressive conditions can be classed as disabled.

    However, you automatically meet the disability definition under the Equality Act 2010 from the day you’re diagnosed with HIV infection, cancer or multiple sclerosis.

    What isn’t counted as a disability

    Some conditions aren’t covered by the disability definition. These include addiction to non–prescribed drugs or alcohol. To find out about the conditions which aren’t covered, download the ‘Equality Act Guidance’.

    Download ‘Equality Act Guidance’ (PDF, 789KB)