Impact of disability or illness on work ability (partial working ability)

A disability or illness does not usually affect working, getting a job, or choosing a field. However, it can sometimes reduce your possibilities of getting work or keeping your job. When you are choosing a vocation or education, in addition to your interests or predispositions, you must also take into consideration limitations caused by your possible disabilities or illnesses.

While an illness or disability may reduce your working ability and functional capacity, this does not necessarily mean that you are completely unable to work. Your opportunities for working and finding a suitable job are improved by 

  • a correctly chosen and proportioned job,
  • tailored work tasks and environment,
  • adequate skills and training, and
  • support for employment provided by employment services.

A service specialist at your regional employment service office will help you when you need information about your opportunities for finding work and keeping your job despite a disability or illness. Contact the employment official when considering the answers to the following questions:

  • What kind of work or education would suit me?
  • Can I continue in my job or should I consider changing careers?
  • Who should I contact when I need rehabilitation?
More information

Employment and staying in working life can be supported in various ways

All public employment services take special needs for service caused by a disability or illness into consideration. You will not be left alone.

You can discuss matters related to your employment with a professional such as a job coach. The municipal social services can also be included in this discussion.

If your job search has continued for half a year or more, and you have not yet found a job, training, or employment promotion service suitable for you, the employment official will arrange job search discussions with you.

If your job search has continued for half a year or more, and you have not yet found a job, training, or employment promotion service suitable for you, the employment official will arrange job search discussions with you. The purpose of these discussions is to find an in-depth job search service that best advances your situation. An activation plan will be made for you to improve your employment and life management.

Vocational guidance and career planning help you assess your vocational, education or work options.

If you are aged under 30, a visit to a One-Stop Guidance Center can help you get started. The One-Stop Guidance Center provides information and guidance according to your needs, for example on matters related to studying, finding employment, and the smoothness of everyday life. 

You can study job-seeking skills in job-search training.

Career coaching guides and supports you in studying different career options.

Job coaching will guide and support you personally in searching for a job and finding employment.

You can use a work try-out to find out about career choices and career options in practical tasks. You can also use it to support your return to work.

A pay subsidy is an economic benefit for employers to cover the pay of an unemployed jobseeker.

The Abilitator is a free self-assessment method of work ability and functioning for all people of working age. With the Abilitator quiz you can find out about your situation, strengths, and development needs. 

 

You may also need other support and rehabilitation alternatives to get into working life or stay at work.

You should find out what your current state of health is if it has not been checked in a long time or if you feel like it has changed. If you are unemployed, the employment official is responsible for providing you with an examination of your working ability and functional capacity. You need a medical certificate so that you can participate in services promoting work ability.

The state of health of unemployed persons can be ascertained in the health examination of unemployed persons organised by the wellbeing services counties, the state of health of employed persons in occupational healthcare, and the state of health of students in student healthcare.

If you need a comprehensive service to support your employment, you can get help from multisectoral services.

Rehabilitative work activities can be a suitable solution when you are returning to working life after prolonged unemployment, starting your career, or rehabilitating from an illness or a difficult time in your life. The purpose of rehabilitative work activities is to assist individuals whose unemployment has been prolonged, who have received unemployment benefits or basic social assistance for a certain time period, and who are unable to participate in the services offered by the employment official.

If you have a disability or illness affecting work, you can request a certificate for a partially disabled jobseeker from the employment authority.

 

Working conditions can be arranged to correspond to your working ability

Employers have an obligation and often also the desire to make reasonable modifications in the work and working conditions if it will eliminate an impediment to work caused by an injury or illness.

If issues such as illness or disability prevent you from doing your work, your workplace can make adjustments to your job. Adjustments refer to changes at work that involve modifying your job description to better correspond to and support your expertise and working ability.

You can apply for a subsidy for arranging working conditions if your employee’s disability or illness requires new tools or alterations at work.

 

Working as a recipient of a pension or support related to partial working ability

If you wish, you can work and earn a salary at the same time as you receive a pension or support related to partial working ability. In this situation, you need to figure out the earning limits. Earning limits define the amount of salary you can earn without the salary affecting the amount of your pension or allowance. If you want to try returning to work that will exceed your earnings limit, you have the option to put your pension on hold. Leaving the pension on hold means that the payment of the disability pension or partial disability pension is suspended for the duration of your employment relationship.

More information

Organisations to support work ability

Various organisations offer a wide range of support for employment and the ability to work. The experience and knowledge of these actors complement public sector employment services.

From organisations you can get answers to, for example, questions related to working life or studies, if you feel that you belong to their target group. In addition to providing support, many organisations employ people who have challenges with their work ability.

This website is part of the European Commission's Your Europe portal. Did you find what you were looking for? Give feedback! (europa.eu)

 

Updated: