Osteoarthritis, work and benefits

Your rights at work

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

• a suitable chair, a sit-stand desk or a footrest
• less standing, walking or lifting
• a parking space near the entrance
• flexible hours, or time off for appointments and physiotherapy
• working from a ground floor office
• voice software if typing hurts your hands

Access to Work is a government grant that can pay for equipment, taxis to work, or a support worker. It does not have to be paid back.

Benefits you may get

Benefits like PIP depend on how osteoarthritis affects you, not on the diagnosis. Osteoarthritis can affect many of the PIP activities, for example:

• preparing food: standing at the cooker, lifting pans, chopping with sore hands
• washing: getting in and out of the bath, washing your feet or hair
• dressing: putting on socks, shoes and trousers
• using the toilet: getting up from a low seat
• moving around: how far you can walk, reliably and repeatedly, without severe pain

Remember the rules: think about most days, and only count something as possible if you can do it safely, well enough, as often as you need to and in a reasonable time.

Other help

• Blue Badge: you may be able to get one if you have great difficulty walking. In England you usually get one automatically if you score 8 points or more in the PIP "moving around" activity.
• Equipment and home changes: ask your council for a needs assessment. A Disabled Facilities Grant can help pay for bigger changes, like a stairlift or a level-access shower.
• If you cannot work: you may be able to get Universal Credit or New Style Employment and Support Allowance. Free advisers, such as Citizens Advice, can help you check.