INDUSTRIAL INJURIES disablement benefit (IIDB) is aimed at those who are suffering disabling injurie...
INDUSTRIAL INJURIES disablement benefit (IIDB) is aimed at those who are suffering disabling injuries or contract prescribed diseases while at work. Injuries can include anything from a severed thumb or forefinger to total blindness or the loss of a limb. Diseases may include those such as tuberculosis or hepatitis.
Who is eligible?
Anyone who has become disabled while in employment - through either an accident that happened at work or the contracting of a prescribed industrial disease at work - is eligible.
The benefit only applies to accidents that happened or diseases that were contracted after 4 July 1948 (before this date, claimants were covered under the Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) Scheme). Self-employed people are not covered under this benefit.
The claimant must still be suffering from a disablement of at least 14% after 15 weeks from the date of the injury or onset of the disease. However, certain prescribed diseases may attract payment even if the disability is assessed at less than 14%. A full list of prescribed diseases is available from the DSS.
How payment is assessed
Assessments are made by a representative from the local benefits agency who considers any evidence put before them, including an opinion from a doctor at DSS medical services.
At this stage an award can be made on either a provisional or final basis. If a provisional award is made the claimant will then be considered for a renewal award before the provisional period expires.
Claimants can apply to have a reassessment at any time after an award has been made.
The amount payable under the IIDB is dependent on the extent of the disablement arising from the accident or disease. The extent is measured as a percentage of total disability. For example, total loss of sight or loss of both hands would count as 100% disablement. Loss of an index finger or big toe would count as 14% disablement.
To qualify for this benefit, the level of disablement must be assessed to be at least 14% (at least 20% for occupational deafness). Disablement of less than 1% will not be considered for an award.
Although disablement for less than 14% will not normally be considered, disablement percentages for more than one accident or disease covering the same period can be added together to reach the 14% threshold.
How much is payable?
Disablement pension is paid at percentage rates between 20% and 100%, rounded up or down to the nearest 10%. Assessments between 14% and 19% are rounded up to the 20% rate.
Claimants under the age of 18 (with no dependants) are paid at a reduced rate.
IIDB is non contributory, not income related and not taxable.
How is it paid?
IIDB can be paid in one of two ways; either directly into a bank or building society account every four weeks or at a post office every week.
The benefit will not be paid until 15 weeks after the date of the accident or onset of the disease.
How to claim
In the case of disability resulting from an accident, the injury must be recorded as an industrial accident as soon as possible. Claim forms are available from the DSS.
Claims should be made either immediately after contracting the disease or nine weeks after an injury if they are still disabled. In any case the claims form should be sent to the DSS within six months of the accident/onset of the disease.
Related benefits
IIDB is taken fully into account for the following benefits:
l Disabled person's tax credit.
l Earnings top up.
l Income support.
l Jobseeker's allowance (income-based).
l Working Families Tax Credit.
It may also affect a war pension but does not affect a customer's entitlement to any other social security benefits.
Analogous scheme
The analagous industrial injuries scheme is administered by the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE).
In many ways it is similar to IIDB, except it is for those on DfEE funded training schemes who are injured or contract a disease during the course of their training.
Benefits are assessed in a similar way and paid at the same rates as IIDB. Local Training and Enterprise Councils will provide the documentation for claims which are then passed on to the DfEE head office in Sheffield.
Edward Sylvester is marketing assistant at Guardian Financial Services
