Applying For State Benefits

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos disease and were exposed to asbestos at work in the UK you may be entitled to state benefits. You do not have to prove your employer was at fault to claim.  

 

It may also be possible for dependants (widows and children) of a person who has died from an asbestos disease to claim these benefits but strict time limits apply.  

 

There are two main state benefits for people who have been disabled by an asbestos disease:  

 

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)

This is a weekly payment. The amount of benefit paid depends on the degree of disability you are suffering.

 

IIDB is paid regardless of what other income or savings you have. An independent doctor employed by the UK Benefits Agency will obtain copies of your medical records to confirm the diagnosis. You may need to attend a medical appointment.  

 

The Pneumoconiosis Fund (PWC)

This is a lump sum payment designed to compensate people whose employers have gone out of business. The payment can be several thousand pounds, depending on the age of the sufferer and the disease.

 

PWC is paid regardless of what other income or savings you have. It is first necessary for a claim for IIDB to have been accepted by the Benefits Agency. It is essential that a claim is made under the scheme before any legal proceedings are issued. 

 

Other Benefits

You or your carers may also be able to claim:

· Carers Allowance

· Disability Living Allowance

· Constant Attendance Allowance

For advice on State Benefits or assistance with completing forms, please contact: