Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
What is it?
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) is paid to people who have become disabled because of an accident at work or who have developed an industrial disease as a direct result of their job. It is paid whether or not you are now working. It can also be claimed by and paid to people of state pension age in addition to those of working age.
There is a further benefit known as Reduced Earnings Allowance which can be paid if your accident or the onset of your disease took place before 10 October 1994.
You can receive Industrial Injuries benefits as well as Incapacity Benefit, and it is not treated as income for Tax Credits. However, Industrial Injuries benefits are treated as income for Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Housing and Council Tax Benefit and Pension Credit.
Do I qualify?
The main qualification is that you must have been an employed earner - self-employed people cannot claim. However, there are no restrictions on how long you have worked, how much you earn, how many hours you work or whether you paid any national insurance contributions.
You must be able to show that the disability that you suffer now has resulted either from an accident at work, or in the course of your employment, or is a listed industrial disease. However, you would not normally be covered if you were breaking work rules or doing something not connected with your job (for example, playing a game of pool in your lunch break.)
You must be able to show that your industrial accident or disease has led to a physical or mental disablement. To qualify for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit you must be assessed as at least 14% disabled. For Reduced Earnings Allowance you must be at least 1% disabled.
It is possible to combine the effects of different industrial accidents or diseases to increase the total extent of your disablement. However, your assessment can be reduced if you also suffer from a condition which is not related to your work.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
How much is it?
The amount of benefit you get depends on how severely disabled you are assessed as. Weekly amounts range from £16.77 to £83.85 for people under 18 and £27.36 to £136.80 for people aged 18 or over (or under 18 with dependents).
How do I apply?
For more information on Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, including other related benefits such as Constant Attendance Allowance, Reduced Earnings Allowance and Retirement Allowance, you can contact the Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) 0800 88 22 00.
People with speech or hearing problems using a textphone can dial 0800 24 33 55.
Contact your local Jobcentre Plus or our Benefits Maximisation Service to find out if you qualify for this benefit.
More information can be found in the following DWP leaflets.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits - accidents (271kb)
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit - diseases (109kb)
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits - working with Asbestos (212kb)
You can download an Industrial Injuries Disablement (accident) claim form
Please choose a form from the options below:
Constant Attendance Allowance (146k)
Declaring an Industrial Accident (634k)
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for an accident at work (634k)
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for a Prescribed Disease (287kb)
Reduced Earnings Allowance (828k)
The form comes with notes that will help you fill in the form and tell you where to send the completed form.
The Benefits Maximisation Service can help you to complete a claim form.
After you have made a claim you will normally be asked to attend a medical examination. This so that a doctor can assess the extent of your disablement. A decision maker will then decide whether you qualify and how much you should be paid.
What if I am not satisfied with the decision?
If you are refused benefit or think it should have been paid at a higher rate you can write asking for a revision within one month from the date on the decision. This means that a different Decision Maker will look at your claim again.
It is very important that you reply within one month, as you may not be able to challenge the decision otherwise.
If you are still unsatisfied once the revision has taken place you can ask to have your case heard by an independent appeal tribunal. This usually has to be on a form called a GL24, which is available from any DWP office. You can also ask the DWP to post one to you. Again, you must make your appeal within one month of the date of the revision.
Our Benefit Maximisation Service can help you with revisions and appeals.
What if my circumstances change?
If you feel your health has deteriorated, or you have another condition which means you need more help, you can ask for your benefit to be revised.
Warning - When you ask for a revision the Decision Maker can reconsider the whole claim. This means that you could lose benefit. It is important to get advice before asking for your current benefit to be looked at again. The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide advice and guidance as to the strength of your existing award, and any risks in applying for a higher award.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
Disclaimer
Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.