New “Right to Try” Legislation Removes a Key Barrier to Work for Disabled People
At the end of April 2026, new legislation will come into force designed to address the fear of losing benefits support if a new job does not work out.
For many disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, the risk of triggering a benefits reassessment can be enough to stop them from even trying employment or volunteering. This leaves people stranded on benefits, despite wanting to work.
New legislation aims to address this problem. From the end of April, starting work will no longer automatically trigger a benefits reassessment for people who receive:
- New-style Employment and Support Allowance.
- Personal Independence Payment.
- The health element of Universal Credit.
The new rules also guarantee that volunteering, which is often a first step back into work, will not trigger a benefits reassessment either.
If you are an employer, the rules may remove a barrier that has previously been filtering out suitable candidates before you have had a chance to meet them.
UK businesses are facing a “cost of business crisis”, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Its new cost-stack calculator shows government policy alone has pushed up an average firm's expenses by 70% over the past decade, adding roughly £827,000 a year in costs for a typical mid-sized business. About a quarter of the rise stems from the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, with the higher minimum wage and mandatory pension auto-enrolment also major contributors.
Under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, sole traders and landlords with income of more than £50,000 have been required to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC since 6 April 2026.