Eligibility

Accidents

You may be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) if:

  • you were employed when the accident or event happened
  • you were on an approved employment training scheme or course when the accident or event happened
  • the work accident or event that caused your illness or disability happened in England, Scotland or Wales

There are some exceptions you can ask your regional Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre about.

Diseases

You can claim IIDB if you were employed in a job or were on an approved employment training scheme or course that caused your disease. The scheme covers more than 70 diseases, including:

  • asthma
  • chronic bronchitis or emphysema - also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • deafness
  • pneumoconiosis (including silicosis and asbestosis)
  • osteoarthritis of the knee in coal miners
  • prescribed disease A11 (previously known as vibration white finger)
  • Dupuytren’s contracture

The scheme also covers asbestos related diseases including:

  • pneumoconiosis (asbestosis)
  • diffuse mesothelioma
  • primary carcinoma of the lung with asbestosis
  • primary carcinoma of the lung without asbestosis but where there has been extensive occupational exposure to asbestos in specified occupations
  • unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening

You can get a full list of illnesses from your regional Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit centre.

You cannot claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you were self-employed.