Anxiety, depression, work and benefits

Your rights at work

Under the Equality Act 2010, anxiety and depression can count as a disability if they have a substantial, long-term effect on your daily life. Long-term means it has lasted, or is likely to last, 12 months, or is likely to come back. If it counts, your employer must consider reasonable adjustments, such as:

• flexible hours, or a later start if mornings are hard
• working from home some of the time
• a phased return after sick leave
• regular catch-ups with your manager
• time off for therapy appointments
• a quieter place to work

Access to Work

Access to Work offers a free, confidential Mental Health Support Service. It can give you tailored advice and support for 9 months to help you stay in or return to work. You do not need a diagnosis, and it does not affect your other benefits.

Benefits

PIP is based on how your condition affects you on most days. Anxiety and depression can affect many activities, for example:

• preparing food and eating: needing someone to encourage or remind you to cook or eat
• washing and dressing: needing prompting because you cannot find the motivation or energy
• managing money: needing help because anxiety or low mood makes decisions overwhelming
• mixing with other people: needing someone with you, or feeling overwhelming distress
• planning and following journeys: needing someone with you, or being unable to go out because of overwhelming distress

Prompting (someone reminding or encouraging you) counts in PIP, even if you are physically able to do the task.

If you cannot work because of your mental health, you may be able to get Universal Credit or New Style Employment and Support Allowance. A free adviser, such as Citizens Advice, can help you check.