The “Right to Try” Work Guarantee: A Game Changer for Disabled Job Seekers in the UK

For too long, disabled people in the UK have faced a complicated and often punishing system when trying to move into work. The fear of losing vital benefits, the stress of rigid rules, and a lack of trust in government schemes have all played a role in holding people back. However, a new proposal, called the “right to try” work guarantee, might be about to change that.

This concept, announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall in March 2025, is being developed to help disabled people enter employment without risking their benefits or facing sanctions if things don’t work out. If implemented effectively, it could offer real security, flexibility, and dignity to those who want to give work a go — but who need to know they won’t be penalised if it doesn’t work out.

What is the “Right to Try” Work Guarantee?

The “right to try” work guarantee is still in its early stages, but the idea is relatively straightforward: disabled people will be able to try working without the usual fear of losing essential support. It’s a safety net designed to reduce risk and encourage people to test the waters of employment.

Under current rules, many disabled people worry that even attempting a job could result in a reassessment of their disability benefits UK status. This could lead to reduced payments or sanctions if they can’t keep up with work demands. The new guarantee aims to remove this anxiety by allowing people to try work and return to benefits if needed — without starting the claims process all over again.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has stated that the scheme will be trialled in selected areas and is working in partnership with disability organisations to shape the details.

Why This Matters

This proposal acknowledges something disabled people have been saying for years: that work should be possible, not forced. It shifts the tone away from pressure and suspicion towards flexible work for disabled people, autonomy, and support.

While some disabled people can and want to work, many currently feel trapped. There’s a constant weighing up of risk versus reward: Will this job make me worse? Will I lose my income? Will I be able to get support back if it doesn’t work out?

Those are not abstract worries — they’re based on real experiences. In recent years, we’ve seen significant distrust in the system due to high-profile cases of benefit cuts, flawed assessments, and a “work first” approach that often ignored complex health needs. That’s why a move toward a more voluntary, empowering framework is so important.

The Current Challenges of Working While Disabled

Despite ongoing efforts to improve access to work, the employment rate for disabled people in the UK still lags far behind that of non-disabled people. According to ONS figures from 2024, 53% of disabled people were in employment, compared with 81.6% of non-disabled people.

This disability employment gap isn’t because disabled people don’t want to work — it’s because they face barriers to employment at every turn. These include:

• Workplaces that aren’t physically or mentally accessible
• Lack of flexible hours or remote options
• Employers unwilling to offer reasonable adjustments
• Long wait times for Access to Work support
• Fear of benefits reassessment or sanctions
• Health fluctuations that make consistent work difficult
  

By introducing a right to try work guarantee, the government could begin removing some of these barriers, giving people more space to engage with work in ways that suit their needs.

How the Guarantee Could Work in Practice

While full details are still to come, the right to try work guarantee is expected to support disabled people who’ve struggled to find or stay in work, despite making genuine efforts through job applications, employment advisors, or schemes like the Work and Health Programme.

If implemented well, the guarantee could lead to more flexible job opportunities. It would also have safeguards in place to protect benefits and reduce the risk of financial loss if things don’t work out. It’s not just about more advice — it’s about real, practical support.

The scheme also forms part of a wider £1 billion government investment in employment support for disabled and long-term sick people. If that funding’s used wisely, it could help create a more responsive system. However, how it’s delivered in practice will be key.

Potential Pitfalls to Watch For

As with any government policy announcement, the devil will be in the details. Disability campaigners have cautiously welcomed the idea, but many remain wary — and for good reason. Past schemes have sometimes promised a lot but failed to deliver meaningful change.

Some of the risks to keep in mind include:

• Eligibility clarity: Who will qualify for the guarantee? Will it be limited to certain benefit types or health conditions?
• Local rollout: Will the trial be fair and inclusive?
• Assessment safeguards: What happens if someone tries work and becomes too unwell — will they be automatically reassessed?
• Support during the trial: Will people have the tools, equipment, and help they need to make the trial successful?
  

Without careful design and genuine input from disabled people, the policy risks becoming another failed promise. But with the right safeguards and long-term investment, it has the potential to be transformative.

What Comes Next?

The DWP says it will co-design the right to try work guarantee with disabled people and charities. The first pilots are expected to begin later this year. It’s a chance to prove that employment support doesn’t have to be about coercion. It can be built on trust, choice, and tailored assistance.

For now, disabled people and their advocates are watching closely. Many want to be hopeful, but experience tells them to be cautious. What matters most is whether this guarantee genuinely makes it easier, not harder, for disabled people to navigate the world of work.

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