Rejected for a job over long term health: who helps?

Summary

If you were not considered for a job because of a long term health condition, who helps first is ACAS (rights explanation and early conciliation if you claim), and the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) for discrimination signposting. Citizens Advice can help you sort employee versus applicant facts. None of them will sue the employer for you. Speak to a solicitor when deadlines are close or the facts look like disability discrimination under the Equality Act.

Key information

• Keep the advert, application, emails, and any health questions asked before a job offer.
• Disability under the Equality Act can include many long term health conditions. Reasonable adjustments apply to recruitment as well as employment.
• Time limits for tribunal claims are short (often 3 months less one day from the act complained of). ACAS early conciliation usually comes first.
• Contract type still matters later (employee / worker / zero hours / agency / self employed), but applicants can still raise discrimination points.
• ACAS will explain discrimination and recruitment rules at a high level, run early conciliation if you start a claim pathway, and point you to disability discrimination guidance. They will not decide you win, write your ET1, or represent you at tribunal.
• EASS gives Equality Act information and signposting. They will not litigate for you.
• Citizens Advice helps structure what happened and local referral options via discrimination at work. They will not file the claim.
• Speak to a solicitor or Law Centre when you plan a tribunal claim, need pleadings, or the deadline is close. Free doors first for orientation.

Practical guidance

• ACAS helpline / web guidance, then early conciliation if claiming.
• EASS for Equality Act signposting: equalityadvisoryservice.com.
• Citizens Advice for a second plain English pass on letters.
• Solicitor or Law Centre if discrimination looks strong or the clock is tight.
• Ask the Shaman: free door routing.

Related topics