Is IBS a disability?
Under the Equality Act 2010, a condition counts as a disability if it has a substantial (more than minor) and long-term (12 months or more) effect on your normal daily activities. The law looks at how you would be without treatment. Severe IBS that has a big effect on daily life can be covered.
Reasonable adjustments
- a desk close to a toilet
- permission to take toilet breaks when you need to
- flexible hours, or working from home, during flare-ups
- adjusted travel or meeting arrangements
Benefits
Most people with IBS will not qualify for PIP. It may help if severe symptoms affect activities on more than half of days, such as:
- managing toilet needs, if you need help with incontinence or cleaning up
- planning and following journeys, if fear of accidents causes overwhelming distress that stops you going out
PIP points self-check
Go through the 12 PIP activities one at a time and see roughly how many points may apply to you.
About 10 minutes. Your answers never leave your device.
If you cannot work
If your health means you cannot work, or can only work a little, you may be able to get New Style Employment and Support Allowance or extra money in Universal Credit. These are separate from PIP, and you can get them at the same time.
Sources we used
- GOV.UK, Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010
- GOV.UK, Personal Independence Payment
- The IBS Network
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