Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Key information
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB), is
for people who are disabled because of an accident at work, or who
have certain diseases caused by their work.
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland
Age rules: No age rules but you must have a
contract of employment
Type of benefit: Non
means tested
Taxable: No
Administered by: Industrial Injuries Benefits
Centres
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Who does it help?
People who are disabled because of an accident at work, or who
have certain diseases caused by their work.
Only industrial diseases qualify, for example, diseases caused
by chemicals you have worked with or hearing loss caused by your
work. You can get a list of the diseases from your local benefits
office.
You do not have to have paid national insurance contributions to
get IIDB. You can get it even if you carry on working or go back to
work. You cannot get it if you were self-employed.
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What help does it provide?
IIDB is money paid directly into your bank, building
society or Post Office card account. You can spend it as you want.
It might affect other means-tested benefits you are getting.
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How much does it pay?
The amount depends on the extent of your disability and your
age. For example, if you are assessed as 100% disabled and you are
over 18, you would get £158.10 a week.
Depending on the extent of your disability, you can be paid
IIDB:
- For a fixed period
- For life.
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How do I make a claim?
Paper Claim
Phone your
local Industrial Injuries Benefit Centre (link opens in a new
window) for a claim form
In Northern Ireland
Phone the Industrial Injuries Branch for a claim form:
Telephone: 028 9033 6000
There is no time limit for claiming IIDB. You can still claim if
your accident happened or disease started some years ago.
A doctor or other medical professional will assess you after you
make your claim. They will assess how your disability affects you.
The extent of your disablement will be stated as a percentage and
you must usually be assessed as having at least 14% disablement to
get benefit, although there are exceptions to this.
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What documents will I need?
When you claim IIDB, you have to provide your national insurance
number and evidence to show it belongs to you.
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Can it be backdated?
A claim can be backdated for up to three months if you would
have been entitled to it earlier. It does not matter why your claim
is late. Request this when claiming.
You cannot ask for Disablement Benefit to be backdated if you
are claiming for loss of hearing.
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Challenging decisions
If you disagree with the decision made on your benefit claim you
can ask for a written statement of reasons. If you still believe
the decision is wrong, for example due to incorrect information
being used, you can ask for it to be looked at again, and/or
appeal.
The time limits are strict, you will usually be given one
month to dispute a decision, so it is important to seek advice and
act quickly.
Further information on Challenges and
complaints
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Change of circumstance
You must report changes in your circumstances which might affect
your entitlement to this benefit.
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Related benefits
As well as IIDB, some people might get:
Constant Attendance
Allowance is paid with IIDB if you need care and
attention because of your disability and you have a 100%
disablement assessment. There are four rates of benefit. The amount
you get depends on what care you have to have and how often you
need it.
The benefits office will automatically assess you for Constant
Attendance Allowance if you are assessed as having 100% disablement
when you claim IIDB. If your disability gets worse after you have
claimed IIDB, you can ask about claiming Constant Attendance
Allowance then.
Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance is
paid with Constant Attendance Allowance. You only get this if you
are getting Constant Attendance Allowance at one of the two higher
rates, and your care needs are likely to be permanent.
Reduced Earnings
Allowance is a benefit you can get if your earnings
are reduced because of your accident or disease, or if you cannot
work at all. However, you can only get Reduced Earnings Allowance
for industrial accidents that happened, or diseases that started,
before 1 October 1990.
Retirement Allowance. This is for people who
have been getting Reduced Earnings Allowance and who stop working
after they reach state pension age. You get Retirement
Allowance at 25% of the rate of your Reduced Earnings Allowance
when you stopped work. You do not have to make a claim for
Retirement Allowance because you only get it if you have been
getting Reduced Earnings Allowance.
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This information has been produced by Citizens
Advice.
Last updated: 6 April 2012
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