The "Right to Try" policy is a real UK government welfare reform that came into effect on 30 April 2026. According to the government's own publications, it is designed to give disabled people and people with long-term health conditions the confidence to try work or volunteering without the fear that doing so will automatically trigger a benefit reassessment or loss of benefits. The government's official summary states: "Right to Try supports people to test their ability to work in a safe and predictable way." The explanatory memorandum to the legislation states the policy's aim is to give "disabled people the confidence to start working without the fear of an immediate benefit reassessment if it does not work out." The government announcement describes it as removing "barriers to work" and "encouraging people with health conditions and/or disabilities into work." The claim characterises this as being "intended to incentivise people to take up opportunities." The policy functions by removing a disincentive — the fear of losing benefits — which in effect encourages people to try work. While the language of "incentivise" is somewhat broader than the government's more specific framing of removing barriers and giving confidence, the core assertion is accurate: the policy's purpose is to encourage people to take up work or volunteering opportunities by removing the penalty for doing so. Sources: - GOV.UK, "Right to Try: summary" — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-try/right-to-try-summary - GOV.UK, "Barriers to work removed for disabled benefit claimants as landmark legislation introduced" — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/barriers-to-work-removed-for-disabled-benefit-claimants-as-landmark-legislation-introduced - GOV.UK, "Biggest shake up to welfare system in a generation to get Britain working" — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-shake-up-to-welfare-system-in-a-generation-to-get-britain-working - Explanatory Memorandum to The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 2026 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/395/pdfs/uksiem_20260395_en_002.pdf