Industrial Injuries Benefit

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) provides financial support for people who became disabled or ill as a result of an accident at work or a prescribed industrial disease. It is not means-tested — your income, savings, and other benefits do not affect eligibility. The benefit is paid based on the level of disability assessed, known as the "disablement assessment percentage".

The amount you could receive ranges from up to £43.88 per week (for 14% disablement) to up to £219.40 per week (for 100% disablement). Your percentage is assessed by a medical advisor who examines how the accident or disease has affected you compared to someone without your condition. You may also qualify for additional allowances on top of the basic rate, including Constant Attendance Allowance and Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance.

To qualify, you need to have been employed (not self-employed) at the time of the accident or when you developed the disease. The accident must have happened at work or on an approved work journey, or you must have developed one of the prescribed industrial diseases linked to your type of work. Common examples include asbestos-related conditions, occupational deafness, hand-arm vibration syndrome, and various skin conditions.

IIDB can be claimed alongside most other benefits — including PIP, Universal Credit, and ESA. It is often overlooked, particularly by people who developed conditions many years after leaving the job that caused them. There is no time limit on claiming for industrial diseases, though you typically need to claim within 3 months of an accident.