INDUSTRIAL INJURIES DISABLEMENT BENEFIT

This is a weekly allowance paid by the DWP if your asbestos related illness was caused by your current or previous employment. This award is not affected by income and is made regardless of your age, whether you are retired or whether you paid your National Insurance Contributions.

WAR DISABLEMENT PENSION

If you are suffering from an asbestos related illness through military service then providing you are no longer in active service and your disablement arose prior to 6 April 2005 then you may be entitled to claim a War Disablement Pension.

DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (DLA) OR ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE

These are awards that are available to people who need help with their personal care. If you are under the age of 65 then you qualify for DLA, whereas if you are over 65 then you receive AA. DLA is split into two parts:

Care component – designed to attend to your care needs.

Mobility component – designed to assist with your mobility needs.

The amount you receive depends on the severity of your illness.

Like the DLA scheme, Attendance Allowance is split into two groups called the Higher Rate and the Lower Rate. Again the award you will receive will depend on the severity of your illness.

PNEUMOCONIOSIS (WORKERS’ COMPENSATION) SCHEME

Unfortunately there are occasions where former employers have ceased trading and their insurance company cannot be traced. Under this scheme the Government pay fixed amounts of compensation to people who are suffering with an asbestos related illness.

A lump sum under the Pneumoconiosis (Workers' Compensation) Scheme may only be awarded if you have already been awarded IIDB.

DIFFUSE MESOTHELIOMA SCHEME

This is a government scheme designed to benefit people who are suffering from diffuse mesothelioma but are not eligible under the P(WC)S. The Diffuse Meothelioma Scheme makes a one off payment depending on your age at the time you were diagnosed.

The scheme covers people whose asbestos exposure occurred in the UK BUT was not as a result of their work. Examples are:

exposure to asbestos through a family member – such as washing their clothes

living near an asbestos factory

if you were self-employed

if you are unsure where you came into contact with the asbestos but it was in the UK

For both the Pneumoconiosis (Workers' Compensation) Scheme and the Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme it is possible for a dependant to claim for compensation in respect of someone who was entitled to this benefit but unfortunately passed away before making the claim. Generally the ‘appointed’ person should make the claim within 12 months from the date of death.