One of the biggest fears that stops disabled people trying a job is the worry that any attempt at work will cost them their benefits. The Right to Try is the government's response to that fear: a commitment that trying work should not, by itself, trigger a benefit reassessment. This guide explains what the Right to Try means in practice, how it relates to PIP, and what you should still keep in mind if you want to try working.
The fear that holds people back
Many people on disability benefits would like to try some work, but hold back because they are afraid that doing so will lead to their benefits being reviewed and possibly cut. If a job does not work out, they fear being left worse off, having lost an award that was hard to win in the first place. The Right to Try is intended to remove that fear, so that attempting work feels safe rather than risky.
What the Right to Try means
The Right to Try is the principle, set out in the government's plans to reform disability and employment support, that trying work will not in itself be treated as evidence that your condition has improved, and will not automatically trigger a reassessment of your benefit. The aim is to let people test whether they can manage a job, knowing that if it does not work out they are not penalised simply for having tried.
PIP is not affected by work anyway
It is worth being clear that PIP itself is not means-tested and does not depend on whether you work. PIP is based on how your condition affects your daily living and mobility, not on your job or your earnings, so working does not directly reduce your PIP. You can already work and claim PIP at the same time. The Right to Try matters most for the worry that working might prompt the DWP to look again at your award, rather than because work changes the PIP rules.
The real concern: reassessment
The genuine concern for many people is that taking a job might prompt a review, at which an assessor could decide their needs have lessened. The Right to Try is designed to reassure people that the act of trying work will not be used against them in this way. For benefits like the Universal Credit health element, the intention is that attempting work should not by itself trigger a fresh Work Capability Assessment.
What still matters
The Right to Try does not mean your circumstances can never be reviewed, and it does not remove your duty to report genuine changes. If your condition actually improves, you should still report that. What the principle protects is the attempt itself: trying a job, and stopping if it does not work, should not be treated as proof that you no longer need support. Being honest about how your condition affects you remains essential.
Starting small and building up
If you want to try work, you do not have to leap straight into a full-time job. Many people start with a few hours, flexible work, or a supported placement, to see how they cope. Because PIP is not affected by your hours or pay, you can do this without your PIP changing. If you are on Universal Credit, the work allowance and taper mean your payment reduces gradually as you earn, so work generally still pays.
Keep records of how you cope
If you do try work, keep a note of how you manage and any difficulties you have, including help you need, adjustments your employer makes, and days you cannot manage. This is useful if your benefit is ever reviewed, because it shows that your underlying condition has not changed even though you attempted a job. Good records protect you and make any future conversation with the DWP easier.
Get advice before big changes
Before making a significant change, such as starting a job with substantial hours, it is sensible to get a benefits check so you understand exactly how your income and benefits will interact. An adviser can confirm what will happen to your Universal Credit, whether anything needs reporting, and how the Right to Try applies to your situation, so you can try work with confidence rather than anxiety.
If you live in Scotland
In Scotland, disability benefits are devolved, with Adult Disability Payment replacing PIP. Social Security Scotland has its own approach, which has emphasised a less intrusive system with fewer reassessments. If you live in Scotland and want to try work, the same broad reassurance applies that your disability payment is based on your needs rather than your job, but check the specific rules that apply to you.
Reasonable adjustments at work
If you do try work, your employer has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments so that your disability does not put you at a disadvantage. These might include flexible hours, a phased return, changes to your duties, equipment, or extra breaks. Knowing your rights makes trying work less daunting, because the responsibility for making a job workable does not fall on you alone. If you are unsure what to ask for, a disability employment adviser or a charity such as Scope can help you identify useful adjustments.
Volunteering and work trials
Trying work does not have to mean a paid job straight away. Volunteering, a work trial, or a short supported placement can be a gentle way to test what you can manage, build confidence, and see how your condition copes with a routine. Because PIP is based on your needs rather than your activity, volunteering does not affect it, though if you are on other benefits it is worth checking the rules so you stay within them.
Your housing support and work
If you receive help with rent through the housing element of Universal Credit, that help does not simply stop when you start work; it reduces gradually as your earnings rise, in the same way as the rest of your award. This means trying a few hours of work will not leave you suddenly unable to pay your rent. Understanding this can remove another common worry that holds people back from giving work a go.
The choice stays yours
The Right to Try is about giving you the confidence to attempt work on your own terms, not about pushing you into a job you are not ready for. You decide whether and when to try, and you can stop if it is not working without that decision being held against your benefit. Approached this way, trying work becomes a low-risk experiment rather than a gamble with your income, which is exactly what the principle is meant to achieve.
Telling the DWP about work
If you are on Universal Credit, your earnings are usually reported automatically through your employer, but you should still keep your journal up to date and mention that you are trying work. For PIP, there is no need to report simply starting a job, because PIP is not based on whether you work; you only report a genuine change in how your condition affects you. Knowing exactly what does and does not need reporting helps you avoid both overpayments and unnecessary worry.
Where to get help
If you are thinking about trying work, free support is available from Citizens Advice, disability employment advisers, and charities such as Scope. They can help you understand how work fits with your benefits and make the most of the Right to Try. For how earnings affect Universal Credit, see our guide to the work allowance and taper.
