Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

You can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you have become disabled as a result of an accident at work or as a result of an industrial disease.

This benefit is payable even if you continue or return to work.

The rate of benefit payable depends on the level of your disability.

A customer who has become disabled as a result of an accident which occurred, or a prescribed industrial disease which was contracted, while working in employed earners employment after 4 July 1948.

Self employed people are not covered under this scheme.

After 15 weeks from the date of the accident, or onset of disease, the person claiming must be suffering from a disability normally at 14% or more. However certain Prescribed Diseases may attract payment even if they are assessed at less than 14%. Occupational Deafness cases are paid at 20% or more.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is taken fully into account for:

and may also affect a war pension.

It does not affect a customer's entitlement to any other social security benefits, although it is taken into account for Income Based benefits.

A person who has had an accident at work should apply, as soon as possible, on form BI95 to have it declared as an industrial accident.

A person wishing to claim should complete the relevant BI100 series form:

The claim form should be sent to Industrial Injuries Branch as soon as possible after the accident or the date the disease started.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is payable every 4 weeks, every 13 weeks or every week by direct payment into an account

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is not payable until the 91st day (i.e. 15 weeks excluding Sundays) following the date of the accident or the onset of most prescribed diseases.

Disablement will be assessed and an award made on either a final or provisional basis.

If a provisional award is made, the customer will be called for reassessment of disablement before the end of the period.

A customer can apply for a review of an assessment at any time following an award.

The amount of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit payable depends on the extent of disablement arising from the industrial accident or prescribed disease. For example:

Disablement is assessed by a Decision Maker following a report by a Medical Advisor. To qualify for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit disablement must be assessed at 14% or more. Disablement between 1% and 13% is not compensated for except for pneumoconiosis, byssinosis or mesothelioma where it must be at least 1%.

For occupational deafness disablement must be assessed at 20% or more.

In certain circumstances assessments of less than 14%, in respect of more than one industrial accident or prescribed disease which cover the same period, can be added together to reach the 14% threshold.

An assessment between 14% and 24% qualifies the customer for a weekly pension at the 20% rate.

Disablement Pension is paid at percentage rates between 20% and 100%, rounded up or down to the nearest 10%.

Customers under the age of 18 with no dependants receive Disablement Pension at a reduced rate. Other allowances could also be payable:

Customers who receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for certain respiratory diseases may be able to obtain benefit from Industrial Injuries Branch under the Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers Compensation) Order 1979 or under The Mesothelioma Act etc. (NI) 2008.

Details and a contact address are given in leaflet SSA1004NI.