What happens if I try to work and my health gets worse?

If work is not sustainable, the Right to Try rule allows you to return to your previous level of support without starting a new claim.

Does the Right to Try fix workplace accessibility?

No. The policy removes the risk of reassessment but does not address workplace accessibility or employer support.

Right to Try benefits UK: can you work safely?

Last reviewed: 12 April 2026
Applies to: UK
Written by: Georgina, Founder of Purpl

The UK government has introduced a new policy called the “Right to Try.” It allows disabled people to try work or volunteering without the immediate fear of losing their benefits.

For years, many people felt trapped by the system. Starting work could trigger a reassessment and risk stopping vital support like Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

The Right to Try aims to remove that fear. Starting work no longer automatically triggers a review of your claim. This gives you space to test whether a job is right for your health and your life.

If you are navigating work alongside benefits, our Purpl Disability Benefits and Support Handbook can help you understand how everything connects.

At a glance

You can try work without automatic reassessment
Applies to PIP, ESA, and UC health element
Volunteering is also protected
New Universal Credit rules reduce support for new claimants
You can return to your previous support level if work is not sustainable

Why the Right to Try matters for our community

Living with a disability often means your health is unpredictable. You might feel able to work one month, then struggle the next. Until now, the benefits system did not reflect that reality.

Many people avoided trying work because the risk felt too high. If things went wrong, they feared losing everything.

The government says this new rule will remove that barrier and help more people explore employment (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/barriers-to-work-removed-for-disabled-benefit-claimants-as-landmark-legislation-introduced).

Purpl Insight: The biggest barrier to work was not ability – it was fear. This rule finally starts to address that.

What the Right to Try actually means

What protections does it give you?

The Right to Try introduces a clear safeguard. Trying work or volunteering should not automatically trigger a reassessment of your benefits.

This means:

Starting a job no longer counts as a “change of circumstances”
Your PIP or ESA should continue while you test a role
You can build confidence without immediate financial risk

This removes one of the biggest barriers people have faced for years.

What it does NOT change

While the Right to Try removes automatic reassessments triggered by starting work, it does not stop all reviews.

If you already have a scheduled review, it will still go ahead as normal. This means your claim can still be reassessed at the usual time, even if you have started working (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/barriers-to-work-removed-for-disabled-benefit-claimants-as-landmark-legislation-introduced).

This is an important detail many people miss. The policy protects you from being reviewed just for trying work, but it does not pause the wider system.

What happens if work does not work out?

If your health makes it impossible to continue working, the system should allow you to return to your previous level of support more easily.

This removes one of the biggest fears people had when considering employment.

Purpl Tip: Starting work will not trigger a reassessment, but always stay prepared for scheduled reviews and keep your medical evidence up to date.

The hidden risks: Universal Credit changesWhile the Right to Try is a positive step, it does not exist in isolation.

At the same time, the government has reduced support for many new Universal Credit claimants.

From April 2026, the health element of Universal Credit dropped to around £217.26 per month for many new claimants. This is significantly lower than previous levels (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/check-how-much-universal-credit-youll-get/).

If you already receive this support, your payments are usually protected. But if you are making a new claim, you may start at a much lower level.

Is there any exception to the cuts?

There is a limited exception.

Some new claimants with the most severe, long term conditions may still qualify for the higher level of support under the “Severe Conditions Criteria” (https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/benefits-financial-help/ongoing-benefit-changes/).

However, this only applies in specific cases, and many people will not meet the criteria.

What this means in reality

This creates a more complex system:

Existing claimants keep higher support and gain the flexibility of the Right to Try
New claimants face lower financial support from the start
A smaller group with severe conditions may still qualify for higher payments

For some people, this changes the situation from “safe to try” to “pressure to work.”

These changes could increase financial pressure for disabled people.

Purpl Insight: The system is becoming more layered. Understanding where you fit now matters more than ever, especially if you are making a new claim.

What you should do before trying work

Trying work can feel like a big step, even with new protections in place. Taking a few practical steps first can help you stay in control.

1. Check what support you can get

Look into schemes like Access to Work, which can help cover:

Travel costs
Specialist equipment
Support workers

Apply here: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

2. Understand your health needs

Be realistic about what you need to stay well.

This might include:

Flexible hours
Regular breaks
Working from home
Reduced workload

3. Speak to your support network

Talk things through with:

Your GP
A support worker
Someone you trust

They can help you decide if the timing is right.

4. Track your symptoms

Keep a simple record of how your condition affects you day to day.

This helps if:

You need workplace adjustments
You need to explain why work is not sustainable
You need to return to your previous support level

5. Check employer support

Not all workplaces are accessible.

Look for employers who:

Offer reasonable adjustments
Understand disability
Have flexible policies

Purpl Tip: The Right to Try gives you the option to test work – but you stay in control. If it does not work for your health, you can step back.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Right to Try

Will my PIP stop if I get a job?

No. PIP is based on how your condition affects your daily life, not whether you work. The Right to Try means your job alone should not trigger a reassessment.

What if I try to work and my health gets worse?

The policy is designed for this. If work is not sustainable, you should be able to return to your previous level of support.

Can I volunteer without it affecting my ESA?

Yes. You can volunteer as long as you are not paid. This should not be used as evidence that you can work full time (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/volunteering-and-claiming-benefits).

Does this fix workplace accessibility?

No. The policy removes one barrier, but it does not fix inaccessible workplaces or lack of adjustments.

In summary

The Right to Try is a positive change. It removes the fear of losing benefits just for trying to work, which has held many people back.

You now have more freedom to explore work without immediately risking your financial stability.

However, the wider system is changing at the same time. Lower Universal Credit support for new claimants means the safety net is not as strong as it once was.

At Purpl, we believe this is a step forward – but not the full solution. Real progress means giving people both the confidence to try work and the support to make it sustainable.

About the author

Georgina is the Founder of Purpl, a platform dedicated to helping disabled people and those with long term health conditions save money and access support. Living with disability herself, she understands how complex and stressful the system can feel and works to make it clearer and more human.

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The new “Right to Try” rule: Can you work without losing benefits?