Your browser does not support JavaScript!
Home/Welfare Benefits

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

1. Overview

You may be entitled to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) if you became ill or are disabled because of a disease contracted during the course of your employment. The amount you may get depends upon your individual circumstances. Your carer could get a Carer’s Allowance (https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance ) if you have substantial caring needs.

2. The amount of the award

The level of your disability will affect the amount of benefit you may get. This will be assessed by a ‘medical examiner’ on a scale of 1 to 100%. Normally you must be assessed as 14% disabled or more to get the benefit. All amounts are a guide only.

Assessed level of disability

Weekly amount *

100% £182.00
90% £163.80
80% £145.60
70% £127.40
60% £109.20
50% £91.00
40% £72.80
30% £54.60
20% £36.40

*as at 16 July 2020

3. Eligibility

Diseases

You can claim IIDB if you were employed in a job or were on an approved employment training scheme or course that caused your disease. The scheme covers more than 70 diseases (http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/db1-a-guide-to-industrialinjuries/appendix/appendix-1/ ), including:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic bronchitis or emphysema – also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Pneumoconiosis (including silicosis and asbestosis)
  • 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 specified occupations
  • Unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening.

You are not entitled to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you were self employed, i.e. you worked for yourself.

4. How to claim

You’ll need to fill in and post a claim form. The form comes with notes that help you fill it in and tell you where to send it.

Download and print a claim form

To claim for diseases caused by work, use form BI100PD (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-injuriesdisablement-benefit-claim-forms)

Request a claim form by phone

You can also ask Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) Centre to send you a claim form.


Barnsley IIDB Centre
Telephone: 0800 121 8379
Textphone: 0800 169 0314

NGT text relay (http://ngts.org.uk/ ) (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 8379

Monday to Friday, 8am to 7.30pm

Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Alternative formats

Call to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD.

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision (https://www.gov.uk/mandatory-reconsideration ) about your claim. This is called asking for ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

5. Further information

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 straight away if:

  • The condition for which you’re getting benefit improves or gets worse
  • 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 (CAA)

You can claim CAA (https://www.gov.uk/constant-attendance-allowance ) for accidents where your disability is assessed at 100% and you need daily care and attention.

The CAA rate you’re paid is based on an assessment of your needs.

Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance

You can claim £69.90 paid in addition to the CAA rates, if you’re assessed at one of the top 2 rates of CAA and need permanent, constant care and attention.

Reduced Earnings Allowance (REA)

You may get REA (https://www.gov.uk/reduced-earnings-allowance) if:

  • You cannot 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 Etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979

Jobcentre Plus may pay you 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 cannot or have not taken civil action because your former employer has stopped trading
  • You have not brought a court action or received compensation from an employer in respect of 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

You may still be able to get a payment for an asbestos-related illness if you are not eligible for compensation under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979.

You can claim for the ’2008 scheme’ (https://www.gov.uk/diffuse-mesothelioma-payment/eligibility ) if you came into contact with asbestos:

  • While you were self employed
  • Through a family member, for example by washing their clothes

There’s a different payment scheme (https://www.gov.uk/diffuse-mesothelioma-payment/eligibility ) if you were diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma on or after 25 July 2012. You can apply for this even if you’ve claimed compensation under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979.

Effects on other benefits

You can still get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) if you’re claiming:

IIDB will affect the following benefits if you or your partner are claiming them:

It may also affect Council Tax Reduction (https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-reduction ) – contact your local council for more information.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centres

Barrow IIDB Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2BR

Telephone: 0800 121 8379
Textphone: 0800 169 0314

NGT text relay (http://ngts.org.uk/ ) (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 8379 Monday to Friday, 8am to 7.30pm

Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Barnsley IIDB Centre
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1SY

Telephone: 0800 121 8379
Textphone: 0800 169 0314

NGT text relay (http://ngts.org.uk/ ) (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 8379 Monday to Friday, 8am to 7.30pm

Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Looking for advice from someone that understands your situation? Call our information line today on 0844 414 0975

© 2021 Asbestos Victim Support | Registered Charity. 1135588 | Website by Pixus UK