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> Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (diseases and deafness)
It is dealt with by Job Centre Plus - you can find your
local office here There is a lot of information here about this benefit.
If you don't want to read it all, use these quick links to go straight
to the topic you need:
Can I get it?
Guidance on diseases
How much will I get?
Constant Attendance Allowance
How to claim
If circumstances change
What is it?
• paid to people who are ill or disabled as a result of a disease or deafness caused by work
• you must have done certain types of work
• it is not paid if you were self-employed in the work that caused your disease or deafness
• the amount you can get depends on how serious your disability is
• you may also be able to get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you are disabled as a result of an accident at work
• sufferers of certain diseases may also be able to get a payment under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers Compensation) Act 1979, from the Dept of Environment.
Can I get it?
If you can answer 'yes' to one of the following, then you should claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit:
• because of a job you have done, you have a disease caused by asbestos
• because of a job you have done, you have asthma
• because of a job you have done, you have chronic bronchitis
• because of a job you have done, you have deafness
• because of a job you have done, you have pneumoconiosis (including
silicosis and asbestosis)
• because of a job you have done, you have tenosynovitis
• because of a job you have done, you have vibration white finger
• because of a job you have done, you have another illness that may
be covered by the Industrial Injuries Scheme
Notes
If you are claiming because of a disease which is not mentioned on this page, check with your social security office to see if it is covered by the Industrial Injuries Scheme.
If you get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit at 100 per cent rate and need daily care and attention, you may get Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA). This is paid at four different rates.
If you get Exceptional or Intermediate rate CAA and you need permanent constant care and attention, you may also get Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance.
Guidance - A disease because of working with asbestos
If you have one of the four following diseases because of working with
asbestos:
• pneumoconiosis (asbestosis)
• mesothelioma
• primary carcinoma of the lung where there is evidence of asbestosis
or diffuse pleural thickening or both
• diffuse pleural thickening
To qualify for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit you must have worked in a job which exposed you to asbestos.
The level of exposure must be above the level normally found in the air.
Your employer may be contacted to check what jobs you have worked in.
You will need to have a medical examination, to assess:
• whether you have one of the four diseases
• how seriously you are disabled
• how long your disablement is expected to last
Guidance - Asthma
At some time in the 10 years before you claim, you must have been in contact at work with a substance that caused your asthma.ò
You may need to have a medical examination to assess:
• whether you have asthma
• how seriously you are disabled
• how long your disablement is expected to last
Guidance - Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema or both
You must have worked underground in a coal mine.
The work must have lasted for 20 years or more, but can be for more than one employer.
The 20 years does not have to be one unbroken period and breaks in employment may be ignored.
You will usually need to take a breathing test to see if your disability is serious enough for you to get benefit. You may also need to have a medical examination.
Guidance - Deafness because of work
You must have worked for at least 10 years in certain jobs known to cause deafness.
The work must have been within 5 years of the date you claim.
You may also be able to get benefit if you worked very close to someone who was doing a job known to cause deafness.
Your hearing will be tested - hearing loss must be at least 50 decibels in each ear because of damage to your inner ear. In at least one ear, this must be caused by noise at work.
Following the hearing test, the doctor will assess:
• whether your deafness was caused by work
• how badly you are disabled because of your deafness
Guidance - Pneumoconiosis (including silicosis and asbestosis)
You must have worked in certain jobs which exposed you to dust.
You may need to have a medical examination to assess:
• whether you have pneumoconiosis
• how seriously you are disabled
• how long your disability is expected to last
• you may also need to have a chest x-ray
If you claimed Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit because of pneumoconiosis and your claim was turned down because it was said that you did not have the disease, ask for your claim to be looked at again.
For more information, check the leaflet 'Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit - If you have pnuemoconiosis' (pdf format)
Guidance - Tenosynovitis
You must have worked in a job involving manual labour or frequent and repeated movement of the hand or wrist.
You may need to have a medical examination to assess:
• whether you have tenosynovitis
• how seriously you are disabled
• how long your disabilityis expected to last
Guidance - Vibration white finger
You must have worked in certain jobs known to cause vibration white finger.
Whether you can get benefit depends on how many of your fingers are affected and how seriously.
You may need you to have a medical examination to assess:
• whether you have vibration white finger
• how seriously you are disabled
• how long your disability is expected to last
Guidance - Other diseases
Some other diseases caused by work and covered by the Industrial Injuries
scheme are:
• diseases caused by exposure to asbestos, for example pneumoconiosis
(asbestosis), diffuse mesothelioma, diffuse pleural thickening and lung
cancer. See also the Pneumoconiosis
etc (Workers Compensation) Act 1979
• diseases caused by radiation
•diseases caused by exposure to certain dangerous chemicals
• diseases caused by exposure to certain biological agents such as animals, plants and other organisms
• carpal tunnel syndrome caused by hand-held powered tools with internal vibrating parts
• dermatitis
If you want to know whether a disease is covered by the scheme, check with your social security office.
How much will I get?
Only use the amounts shown as a guide. The rules for benefits mean that your individual circumstances may affect the amount you can get. This means you will not always be able to work out exactly how much you will get by using these amounts.
Following decisions by Social Security Commissioners, the way the some claims are worked out has changed. Check with an adviser at your social security office for further information.
These are all weekly amounts:
Disablement Benefit
| Disablement |
aged over 18 |
under 18, no dependants |
| 100% |
£131.70 |
£80.70 |
| 90% |
£118.53 |
£72.63 |
| 80% |
£105.36 |
£64.56 |
| 70% |
£92.19 |
£56.49 |
| 60% |
£79.02 |
£48.42 |
| 50% |
£65.85 |
£40.35 |
| 40% |
£52.68 |
£32.28 |
| 30% |
£39.51 |
£24.21 |
| 20% |
£26.34 |
£16.14 |
Industrial Death Benefit
This may be paid to the wife or husband of someone who died before 11 April 1988 due to an industrial accident or an industrial disease. If you think you may qualify, ask your social security office for details.
The benefit is paid at 2 main rates:
£87.30 - higher rate
£26.19 - lower rate
These rates are reduced to £16.40 after a stay of 52 weeks in hospital
Constant Attendance Allowance CAA (may
be paid in cases of 100% disablement):
Exceptional rate £105.40
Intermediate rate £79.05
Normal maximum rate £52.70
Part-time rate £26.35
Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance may be paid if you get Exceptional or Intermediate rate CAA, and you need permanent constant care and attention:
£52.70
Reduced Earnings Allowance may be paid for claims relating to industrial diseases that first occurred before 1 October 1990:
Maximum rate £52.68
Retirement Allowance replaces Reduced Earnings Allowance for people over 60:
Maximum rate £13.17
How to claim
If you are claiming Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit because of a disease or deafness, claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.
Contact your local Job Centre Plus office for a claim form or you can download one here.
You will need to provide proof of identity and any documentary evidence to support your claim.
If you already get the benefit and your circumstances change
• If you, or someone you claim for, go into hospital, your Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is not affected, no matter how long the stay.
• If you go abroad you should let your social security office know as soon as possible. If you are going abroad permanently you can get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. If your stay abroad is temporary, you can usually get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for the first 3 months. This can be longer in special circumstances.
• If you start voluntary work, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is not usually affected.
• If you go into residential care or a nursing home, your Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit will not usually be affected.
To get more information or leaflets, get in touch with your social security office.