The changes target searching for work and whether benefits are reassessed
Major new legislation is coming into force which has a big impact on people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) , Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance ESA). The UK government’s “Right to Try” legislation, which allows disabled benefit claimants to try work without immediately losing their benefits, is coming into force on Thursday, April 30, 2026
In a new statement Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms explained how the new rules will work. In response to two questions from MPs about how disabled people are able to try work without automatically triggering a benefits reassessment, he said the scheme means people can look for work without having their benefits reassessed and potentially stopped.
He said: “We are determined that disabled people should have the confidence to try work. Our ‘right to try’legislation will come into force on Thursday. People claiming universal credit, new style employment support allowance and personal independence payment can take steps towards employment and be confident that doing so will not automatically trigger benefit reassessment.
Labour MP Ben Coleman asked: “I thank the Minister for that positive answer. Could he reassure my disabled constituents under the age of 22, many of whom are in education and low-paid work, that they will not lose their universal credit health payments? This financial support is vital to helping young disabled people, because they face the greatest barriers to work. Does he share my concern that removing it could push them further away from employment and deeper into poverty? Has an assessment been made of the impact on poverty of removing that support?”
Sir Stephen replied: “ There is an urgent need to address the big rise in the number of young people not in work, education or training that took place before the last general election. We think that better support might help young people more than extra cash. Alan Milburn’s review on the NEET problem more broadly will report in September; we will wait until then to decide whether to delay access to the universal credit health element until the age of 22. If we did do that, there would need to be exceptions.
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The legislation was brought in to try to avoid the issue of people being stranded on the benefits system, afraid of trying work. More than a third (37 percent) of disabled people and people with health conditions in a DWP work aspirations survey said they want to work but are held back by fear of losing their benefits.
The landmark legislation – coming into force on April 30 – means entering employment will not automatically trigger benefit reassessment for claimants on new-style Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, and Universal Credit health element.
Who it applies to
Right to Try applies to people who get:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Universal Credit (UC) who have been assessed as having Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA)
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance (New Style ESA) who have been placed in the Work Related Activity Group or the Support Group
It also applies to people who receive both UC and New Style ESA and have a single LCW or LCWRA assessment outcome.
Following recommendations made by disabled people and their representative organisations during extensive stakeholder engagement, the legislation also includes a guarantee that those looking to volunteer will be able to do so without fear of benefit reassessment – helping people move closer to, or into, work.
The changes are part of the Government’s drive to unlock work for sick or disabled people and boost living standards, by helping them move into good, secure jobs. This is backed by a £3.5 billion investment in tailored employment support by the end of the decade.
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, said: “Giving sick and disabled people legal protection to try work without fear is vital for their futures and for growing our economy. It’s part of the work we’re doing to bear down on the cost of living and boost living standards for sick or disabled people in every corner of the country.
“With 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness, we’re removing the barriers that have held people back for too long. Whilst this legislation ensures that entering work is not in itself a trigger for reassessment, where a reassessment is already due to take place, this will continue as normal. “
Brian Dow, Chief Executive, Mental Health UK, said: “People often tell us that fear of reassessment, or even losing essential support if things don’t work out, is a significant barrier to taking those first steps back into work. The Right to Try is a positive and practical step that will ensure people have a safety net when exploring opportunities for work or volunteering.
“This welcome initiative will ensure people are more supported and help them to build confidence, skills and connection at a pace that supports their recovery to better mental health.”
For more information on the change from the Department for Work and Pensions click here.