Opportunities
Find paid work
A job with an employer, full time or part time, that suits your skills and your life.
We can help you with
- finding jobs that suit your skills, hours and health
- applications and interviews, including asking for adjustments
- talking to employers about the support you need
- staying in work if your health or circumstances change
Good to know
It is your choice whether to tell an employer about a disability or health condition. Before offering you a job, an employer must not ask about your health, except for limited reasons such as arranging adjustments for your interview (Equality Act 2010, section 60).
Once an employer knows, they must make reasonable adjustments, such as a different way of interviewing, flexible hours or different equipment (reasonable adjustments on GOV.UK).
Work for yourself
Earning from your own skills, as a freelancer or sole trader, on hours that work for you.
We can help you with
- working out what you could offer, and who would pay for it
- how self-employment could affect your benefits
- the practical first steps, from pricing to keeping records
Good to know
Access to Work can support self-employed people whose business turns over at least £6,500 a year. It cannot pay the costs of setting up a business (Access to Work eligibility on GOV.UK).
If you get Universal Credit, you may get a start-up period of up to 12 months, when you do not have to look for other work (self-employment and Universal Credit on GOV.UK).
The charity SAMEE works with disabled people on self-employment.
Start a business
Starting and growing a business of your own, from a first idea to your first customers.
We can help you with
- shaping your idea and checking there are customers for it
- a simple business plan, and the money side
- finding funding and support, and growing what works
Good to know
Start Up Loans lend £500 to £25,000 to businesses that have been trading for less than 5 years, with up to 12 months of free mentoring (Start Up Loans on GOV.UK).
Veterans and their families can get funded training and mentoring to start a business from X-Forces Enterprise.
Working and your benefits
Many people worry that working will cost them their benefits. Working does not always mean losing them, but the rules depend on your benefits and your situation. This is what GOV.UK says, with figures for April 2026 to March 2027.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- You can get PIP if you are working (PIP eligibility on GOV.UK).
- Trying work without a reassessment
- Since 30 April 2026, starting work or volunteering does not on its own lead to a reassessment of PIP, the health part of Universal Credit, or New Style ESA. Reassessments that are already due still happen, earnings rules still apply, and you must still report changes (Right to Try on GOV.UK).
- Universal Credit
- If you have a work allowance, you can earn up to £710 a month, or £427 if you get help with housing costs, before your payment goes down. After that, it goes down by 55p for every £1 you earn (how wages affect Universal Credit on GOV.UK).
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- You can usually work while claiming ESA if you work less than 16 hours a week and earn no more than £203.50 a week (working while you claim ESA on GOV.UK).
- Carer’s Allowance
- You can earn up to £204 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses. In Scotland, Carer Support Payment replaces Carer’s Allowance (Carer’s Allowance eligibility on GOV.UK).
Before you change your hours, check your own situation with a benefits adviser, such as Citizens Advice, or ask us when we talk.
Other support you can get
Support from government schemes and specialist organisations, alongside the help you get from us.
- Access to Work
A government grant for practical support at work: equipment and software, support workers such as a job coach or a BSL interpreter, travel to work if you cannot use public transport, and changes to your workplace. It does not affect your other benefits and you do not pay it back.
You can apply if you are 16 or over and in paid work, or starting within 12 weeks, in England, Scotland or Wales. Apply before you pay for anything, because funding counts from the date you apply. Decisions can take several months. Apply on GOV.UK or call 0800 121 7479.
- For veterans
- Up to 2 years after leaving: the Career Transition Partnership.
- Left more than 2 years ago: Op ASCEND, a free employment service run by the Forces Employment Charity. Call 0121 262 3058.
- If you have a health condition: The Poppy Factory (England and Wales).
- More options: finding a job as a veteran on GOV.UK.
- For carers
From your first day in a job, you can ask for flexible working and take up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave every 12 months (flexible working and carer’s leave on GOV.UK).
- In Northern Ireland
Access to Work and some employment rights work differently. Access to Work on nidirect.
Questions people ask
Do I have to tell an employer about my condition?
No. It is your choice. An employer can only make adjustments for something they know about, so some people tell them after a job offer. Scope’s guide to telling an employer explains the options.
Do I need a diagnosis to get help from Difability?
No. We do not ask for a diagnosis. Many people with a long-term health condition are protected at work by law even if they do not call themselves disabled (the legal definition of disability on GOV.UK).
My health changes from day to day. Can I still work?
Many people can, with the right job and the right adjustments, such as flexible hours, working from home on some days, or a phased start. Tell us what works for you, and we will look at the options with you.
Does it cost anything?
No. It is free to get in touch with Difability.
Can I get in touch for someone else?
Yes. On the Get started form, tick “I am filling this in for someone else”. Please check they are happy for you to share their details with us.