Asthma, work and benefits

Is asthma a disability?

Asthma can count as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 if it has a substantial, long-term effect on your daily life. When deciding, the law looks at how you would be without your medicine, so many people with asthma are covered.

Reasonable adjustments at work

Your employer must consider reasonable adjustments, such as:

• moving you away from dust, fumes or strong smells
• a smoke-free workplace and changes to cleaning products
• good ventilation and temperature control
• time off for appointments
• somewhere to keep your inhaler

Asthma caused by work

If your job causes your asthma or makes it worse, this is called occupational asthma. It is often linked to things like flour dust, wood dust, spray paints and some chemicals.

• tell your employer and your GP
• your employer has legal duties to protect you from harmful substances
• if you were an employee when you got it, you may be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, as occupational asthma is a recognised work-related disease

Benefits

PIP is based on how asthma affects you on most days. Severe asthma can affect activities such as:

• moving around: how far you can walk before breathlessness stops you, reliably and repeatedly
• washing and dressing: if steam, effort or lifting your arms makes you breathless
• preparing food: if you cannot stand at a cooker or you react to cooking fumes

Prescriptions

Asthma does not give you free prescriptions in England, but a prescription prepayment certificate can save money if you need several items. Prescriptions are free in Wales.