A guide to claiming Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

What is Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)?

The Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is a tax-free benefit provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people who become ill or disabled due to an accident or disease that can be attributed to their work. This is a no-fault benefit, meaning you do not need to prove your work is at fault for your illness or injury before you receive support.

There are more than 70 diseases that make a person eligible for the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, including:

• Industrial deafness
• Osteoarthritis of the knee in coal miners
• Silicosis
• Asthma
• Asbestosis
• Pleural thickening
• Mesothelioma

Established in 1948, this benefit is designed to help people with life-altering injuries manage the challenges of disability caused by work-related accidents or diseases.

Am I eligible to make a claim for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit?

IIDB eligibility is dependent on a few factors. You can claim this benefit if you were employed at the time of the accident or event, or if you were on an approved employment training scheme or course.

Unfortunately, those who are self-employed are not eligible to receive this benefit unless they are agency workers self-employed under a contract of services. In this instance, you may be able to receive this benefit if you pay Class 1 national Insurance contributions.

For self-employed people who are not contracted by an agency and paying national insurance, you may be entitled to Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, depending on your circumstances.

The Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit does not cover injuries or illnesses related to Armed Forces service. Instead, military personnel injured or made ill during service on or after 6 April 2005 can claim compensation through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).

However, while government benefits such as IIDB often have certain eligibility requirements, it is often still possible to claim compensation. Regardless of whether you have or have not been able to claim IIDB, you could still be eligible to make a civil claim for your occupational injury or illness .

Finding out whether you are eligible is straightforward – you can speak to a member of our industrial injury and disease team on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online.

How to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

To apply for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit you need to file the correct form for your circumstances. For example, if you are making a claim for an industrial injury, you should use form BI100A, and if you are claiming for a work-related disease, you should use form BI100PD.

These forms can be downloaded and printed to be completed, or you can request a copy over the phone to be sent to you.

As well as your personal details, you will need to provide details about your condition or disease, how it was caused, and its impact on your ability to work.

You may be required to attend a medical assessment to provide a better understanding of how your injury or disease impacts your daily life and your ability to work. The information gathered here dictates how much support you are entitled to, so it is vital you attend if you are asked to. If you fail to attend your medical assessment without good reason, your claim will not be processed.

The medical professional will write a report summarizing their findings from the assessment. The report will advise the DWP on:

• Whether the injuries were caused by an industrial accident or disease,
• Your level of disability,
• The impact on your ability to work,
• How long you may need support.

If your claim is successful, the DWP will determine how much you are entitled to and how long you will receive the benefit, which can be for a set period or for life.

Regardless of whether you qualify for this benefit, you may still be entitled to financial support for you and your family. Our personal injury and industrial disease experts can not only support you in making a civil claim for compensation but they can also advise you on whether you may be eligible for the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Our specialist industrial injuries solicitors are here to help

Our industry leading legal teams are on hand to support you from day one. With a focus on helping, you with your rehabilitation and showing you resources that can help, such as the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, you can rest assured that your lawyers are doing everything they can for you. Your case is our cause.

We work closely with charities and rehabilitation co-ordinators to ensure that any support available to you is streamlined and made easier to access.

To speak to a trusted expert today, call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online to arrange a call back.