You have rights if you become disabled to protect you from discrimination. You might also be entitled to certain benefits.

The main disability and sickness benefits are:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance

What you’re entitled to depends on your circumstances - use a benefits calculator to see what you might be able to get.

You might also be able to get:

• certain types of equipment or have adaptations made to your home without paying VAT
• Council Tax discounts
• a TV licence discount
• a free vehicle tax disc

If you're in England you can get a health and social care assessment to find out what help you can get (eg equipment, home care, day centres) from your local council.

Your employer can’t discriminate against you because of your disability - you’re protected by the Equality Act 2010.

They must also keep your job open for you and can’t put pressure on you to resign just because you’ve become disabled.

Reasonable adjustments

Your employer must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for you so that you’re not disadvantaged compared to non-disabled people.

This could include:

• a phased return to work – eg working flexible hours or part-time
• time off for medical treatment or counselling
• giving another employee tasks you can’t easily do
• providing practical aids and technical equipment for you

Time off from work

If you’re an employee and can’t 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 can’t work after 28 weeks, or you can’t get Statutory Sick Pay, you can apply for Employment and Support Allowance.

Time off from work should not be recorded as an ‘absence from work’ if you’re waiting for your employer to put reasonable adjustments in place.

Check your employment status if you're not sure whether you're an employee or not.

Dismissals and redundancy

Your employer can’t dismiss you just because you’ve become disabled.

You can be dismissed if your disability means you can’t do your job even with reasonable adjustments.

You can’t be selected for redundancy just because you’re disabled.

For advice about work issues, talk to ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), Citizens Advice or your trade union representative.