Whether chronic illness or invisible conditions qualify as disability

Key rules

• Function, not diagnosis: The assessment scores how the condition limits your life, not the diagnosis by itself.
• Threshold: You are legally recognised as a person with a disability when your recognised degree is 33% or more.
• Duration: The limitation must be expected to last at least 12 months.
• Best evidence: Public health system reports showing daily limits, with several years of continuous care, carry the most weight.

Can a chronic or invisible condition count?

Yes. A chronic illness can count as a disability when it causes a long-term limit on what you can do. Here, long-term means a limit expected to last at least 12 months. The same goes for conditions others cannot see, such as chronic pain, fatigue or mental health conditions.

What the assessment looks at

The assessment scores how the condition affects your body functions and daily activities. It does not give points for the diagnosis alone. Two people with the same diagnosis can get different results.

It works in two steps:

1. The team rates your functional limits across set areas of life, for physical, mental, intellectual and sensory conditions.
2. It then adds your personal and social circumstances, with a cap on that addition.

The result is a percentage from 0 to 100. This scale has applied since April 2023. At 33% or more you are legally recognised as a person with a disability.

What makes a strong case

Evidence of function matters most. Show what you cannot do, or can only do with difficulty, in daily activities, work, mobility and self-care. A diagnosis letter that says nothing about this is weak.

• Reports from the public health system carry the most weight.
• Private reports are stronger when backed by tests and clinical records.
• Several years of continuous care make the strongest picture.
• Reports should give the diagnosis, history, treatments tried, prognosis and the date from which the condition is chronic.

The documents list below shows what to gather.

What to expect

Your regional assessment team does the assessment, so results depend on your evidence and on the region. The team may ask for extra reports or call you in for an examination. Keep your reports current, and answer any request quickly.

The questions below cover common doubts, such as how long a condition must last.

Documents you need

• Recent medical reports from your treating specialists (pain unit, rheumatology, psychiatry or neurology), giving diagnosis, history, treatments tried, prognosis and the date from which the condition is chronic.

• Reports describing how the condition limits your daily activities, work, mobility and self-care. These help most.

• Psychological or neuropsychological test results and pain scales, if they apply to your condition.

• Hospital discharge reports and records of your treatment and medication.

• Occupational therapy or social work reports.

Frequently asked questions

How long must a chronic illness last to count as a disability?

A chronic illness must cause a functional limitation expected to last at least 12 months to count as a disability. The assessment scores how the condition limits you, not the diagnosis alone.

Which reports carry the most weight for chronic pain or a mental health condition?

Reports from the public health system carry the most weight, especially those covering several years of continuity of care. Private reports should be backed by tests and clinical records.

Does the assessment give a score for the diagnosis itself?

No, the assessment does not score the diagnosis alone; it rates your functional limits in set areas of daily life. Then it adds personal and social factors, with the social addition capped at a maximum, to reach a percentage from 0 to 100.

Can the assessment team ask me for more evidence?

Yes, your regional team can ask for extra reports or call you for an examination. Keep your specialist and treatment records up to date so you can respond quickly.