Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is available to support people who are ill or disabled from an accident or disease caused by work - or while they were on an approved employment training scheme or course.
Accidents
You may be able to claim if:
- you were employed when the accident or event happened
- you were on an approved employment training scheme or course when the accident or event happened
- the work accident or event that caused your illness or disability happened in the UK
The right to apply for an accident declaration will be removed without resulting in any financial loss.
There are some exceptions you can ask Industrial Injuries Branch about.
Diseases
The scheme covers more than 70 diseases, including:
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - previously known as Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema
- Pneumoconiosis (including Silicosis and Asbestosis)
- Osteoarthritis of the knee in coal miners
- Prescribed Disease A11 (previously known as vibration white finger)
- Diffuse Mesothelioma and a number of other asbestos-related diseases such as Primary Carcinoma of the lung
The scheme also covers asbestos-related diseases including:
- Pneumoconiosis (Asbestosis)
- Diffuse Mesothelioma
- Primary Carcinoma of the lung with Asbestosis
- Primary Carcinoma of the lung without asbestosis but where there has been extensive occupational exposure to asbestos in certain occupations
- Unilateral or Bilateral Diffuse Pleural Thickening
It also covers occupational deafness.
If you are self-employed
You can’t claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you were self-employed.
What you'll get
The amount you get depends on your individual circumstances.
The level of your disability will be assessed by a ‘medical advisor’ on a scale of zero to 100 per cent.
Normally you must be assessed as 14 per cent disabled or more to get the benefit and everyone will be paid the same rate no matter what age.
Your carer could get Carer’s Allowance if you have a lot of caring needs.
How to claim
You can download and fill in a claim form or contact the Department for Communities for a form.
Download a form
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit forms:
- Industrial Accidents Form BI 100 A
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Form BI 100 A Guidance Notes
- Prescribed Diseases Form BI 100 PD
- Prescribed Diseases-Form BI 100PD Guidance Notes
- List of prescribed diseases and occupations covered by IIDB
- Occupational Deafness Claim Form
- Occupational Asthma Claim Form
- Mesothelioma and other lung diseases form PWC 1
Print out a claim form, fill it in and either:
- post it to the office whose details are shown on the form
- hand it in at your nearest Jobs and Benefits offices
Important
The date the claim form is received in a Jobs and Benefits office is the date payment can be considered from - not the date you downloaded the form.
Contact the Department for Communities
To request a claim form, you can either contact the Industrial Injuries Branch or any Jobs and Benefits office.
If you use sign language, you might be able to use the video relay service to contact the Industrial Injuries Branch using British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL). To access the service go to:
SMS messages
When claiming Industrial Injuries Benefit you may receive text messages (SMS) from the Department for Communities (DfC). They will always be clearly marked as DfC and will never ask you to give, or click a link to give, personal information or financial details by message or email.
If you’re concerned or unsure about any text messages (SMS) you receive from about Industrial Injuries Benefit you should contact Industrial Injuries Branch directly. If you suspect you have received a fraudulent message as a scam, contact Industrial Injuries Branch immediately.
- Further information is available at: scamwiseni
What to do if your circumstances change
You, or the person who claims on your behalf, must tell the office that deals with your payments about any changes to your circumstances or personal details. Let them know if:
- the condition for which you’re getting benefit improves
- you marry, remarry, or form a civil partnership and change your name
- you change your address
- you leave the country
- you go into prison
You must also report these if you receive Unemployability Supplement, which topped up Industrial Disablement Supplement until 1987.
Other benefits you may be able to get
Constant Attendance Allowance
You can claim Constant Attendance Allowance for accidents where your disability is assessed at 100 per cent and you need daily care and attention.
The Constant Attendance Allowance rate you’re paid is based on an assessment of your needs.
Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance
You can claim £90.20 and Constant Attendance Allowance rates if:
- you’re assessed at one of the top two rates of Constant Attendance Allowance
- you need permanent, constant care and attention
Reduced Earnings Allowance
You may get Reduced Earnings Allowance if:
- you can’t do your usual job or other work with similar pay because of an accident or disease caused by work
- you have a disability or injury which began before 1 October 1990
Pneumoconiosis (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979
You may be paid a lump sum if you have one of the following diseases:
- Pneumoconiosis
- Byssinosis
- Diffuse Mesothelioma
- Bilateral Diffuse Pleural Thickening
- Primary Carcinoma of the lung when accompanied by Asbestosis or Bilateral Diffuse Pleural Thickening
To get a payment you must meet all the following conditions:
- your dust-related disease must have been caused by your employment
- you’re getting Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for one of the listed diseases
- you must claim within 12 months of the decision awarding Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- you can’t or haven’t taken civil action because your former employer has stopped trading
- you haven’t brought a court action or received compensation from an employer for the disease
You may be able to make a claim if you’re the dependant of someone who suffered from a dust-related disease but who has died. A dependant claim must be made within 12 months of the death of the sufferer.
Diffuse Mesothelioma payment
Under certain circumstances, people who have the asbestos-related disease, Diffuse Mesothelioma, may be entitled to a one-off lump sum payment.