Areas of life where people can lawfully treat you differently, if you have epilepsy

Jobs in the armed forces

These jobs are not covered by the equality laws.

Example

The armed forces can refuse to employ you because you have epilepsy or a history of epilepsy.

Insurance

Insurers can treat disabled people differently to other people, as long as they can justify their reasons.

Epilepsy Action has more information about the equality laws and insurance.

Example

An insurer may charge you more for travel insurance because you have epilepsy. In some cases they could refuse to insure you. They would have to prove that you are more likely to make a claim than somebody who doesn’t have epilepsy.

Other reasons why people can lawfully treat you differently, if you have epilepsy

Health and safety

This could be justified if your epilepsy posed a health and safety risk to you or somebody else.

Example

An employer might not give you a job that involves climbing up ladders, because you have regular seizures. This would be dangerous. They may give the job to somebody who doesn’t have seizures. This is an example of discrimination arising out of a disability. However, it would be lawful, because the employer could justify his reasons.

Unreasonable adjustments

This could be justified if the employer or service provider would have to make unreasonable changes.

Example

A nightclub owner might not be expected to change the strobe lighting in the club, so that somebody with photosensitive epilepsy could go. An adjustment like that could change the whole atmosphere of the club, so may be considered unreasonable.