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Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (diseases and deafness)

If you're ill or have a disability because of disease or deafness caused by certain types of work, you may be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (diseases and deafness).

Who is eligible

You can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (diseases and deafness) if you were employed in a job that caused you to suffer from the disease. The scheme covers more than 70 diseases, including:

  • a disease caused by working with asbestos
  • asthma
  • chronic bronchitis or emphysema
  • deafness
  • pneumoconiosis (including silicosis and asbestosis)
  • tenosynovitis
  • prescribed disease A11 (previously known as vibration white finger)

You can get a full list of illnesses from the Industrial Injuries branch or your local Social Security office.

Osteoarthritis of the knee in miners

On 13 July 2009 Osteoarthritis of the knee in miners, commonly known as 'Miners' Knee', will be added to the list of diseases covered by the Industrial Injuries scheme.

Miners who worked underground for ten years or more may be eligible to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

For more information and to obtain a claim form, please contact:

Industrial Injuries Branch
Castle Court
Belfast
BT1 1SD

If you complete and send the claim form in before 13 July 2009, it will be kept and your claim will be processed as soon as possible after that date.

Who is not eligible

You can't claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you were self-employed in work that caused your disease or deafness.

How much you can get

Your individual circumstances including your age and the severity of your disability - assessed by a doctor on a scale of one to 100 per cent - will affect the level of benefit you may get.

All amounts are a guide only:

Assessed level of disablement

Aged over 18 (weekly amount)

Aged under 18 with no dependants (weekly amount)

100 per cent

£145.80 £89.35

90 per cent

£131.22 £80.42

80 per cent

£116.64 £71.48

70 per cent

£102.06 £62.55

60 per cent

£87.48 £53.61

50 per cent

£72.90 £44.68

40 per cent

£58.32 £35.74

30 per cent

£43.74 £26.81

20 per cent

£29.16 £17.87

How it's paid

The Social Security's normal way of paying pensions and benefits is Direct Payment into an account. It is a safe, convenient and efficient method of payment.

If you are registered blind or need someone who cares for you to collect the money, a cheque can be sent to cash at the Post Office.

Effect on other benefits

You may qualify for other benefits if you have a disability from disease or deafness caused by work, but the amount may be reduced by the amount of income-related benefits you get, including Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit/Rate Relief.

Tell the office that pays your benefits if you're getting Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and related benefits.

Other benefits you may be able to receive

Industrial Death Benefit

You can claim if your wife or husband died before 11 April 1988 as a result of an industrial accident or disease. Ask the Industrial Injuries Branch for details.

The benefit is paid at higher and lower main rates: £95.25 and £28.58.

Constant Attendance Allowance

If you need daily care and attention because of a disability and you claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or a War Disablement Pension, you can claim Constant Attendance Allowance.

The Constant Attendance Allowance rate you're paid is based on an assessment of your needs.

You may also be able to get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (accidents) if you're disabled as a result of a work-related accident.

Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance

If you qualify for Constant Attendance Allowance at one of the two higher rates and your need for constant attendance is likely to be permanent, you may qualify for Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance.

Reduced Earnings Allowance

You may be able to get Reduced Earnings Allowance (REA) if your current earnings, or earnings in a job which it is considered you could do, are less than the current earnings in your previous regular occupation. You can only get REA for claims relating to industrial diseases that first occurred before 1 October 1990. The maximum weekly rate is £58.32

Retirement Allowance

Retirement Allowance replaces Reduced Earnings Allowance when you reach State Pension age. You may qualify for a maximum weekly rate of £14.58

How to claim

You should claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit straight away or you could lose the benefit.

You can download a claim form from the Department for Social Development website.

What to do if your circumstances change

It's important you contact the office that deals with your payments if you or someone you claim for:

  • goes into or leaves hospital
  • goes into or leaves a care home
  • goes abroad to live or visit
  • goes to prison

In most cases you or the person you're caring for will continue to get benefit from the Industrial Injuries Branch - even if you're going abroad permanently. But if your stay abroad is temporary, you'll usually only get payments for the first three months. The office that deals with your payment can give you more information.

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