Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB): We pay Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) to people who have become disabled because of an accident at work or a disease caused by their job. It is paid whether or not you are now working. IIDB can also be claimed by and paid to people of state pension age in addition to those of working age.

This scheme does not cover you if you were self-employed at the time of the accident or the onset of the disease.

You must normally have had the accident or got the disease in Great Britain.

The amount of benefit you get depends on how serious your disability is. We may need you to have a medical examination. The doctor will give us advice about how seriously you are disabled and how long they think your disability will last.

For an online claim form, visit the website: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/

NASS Advice: Any claim for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is made against the National Insurance contributions you have paid all your working life so you are entitled to make such a claim if your health has been affected by your work. Also, these claims do not have to prove your employers negligence was responsible for your condition.

When making such a claim for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, you should be aware you will need substantial medical evidence to back up your claim. You will most likely also have to visit doctors working for the IIDB for further examination.

These doctors have the difficult job of giving your disability a rating in percentage, anything below 14% and you will not receive any benefits, although you may be able to claim for Reduced Earnings Allowance if your illness has led to you having to work in places where your earnings are reduced.

The other problems these doctors face is that some people have nothing wrong with them and others greatly exaggerate their illness. Also, these doctors are under preasure by certain Government bodies not to pass too many cases.

It is not uncommon for people with quite severe disabilities to be awarded 13%. Anyone thinking about making a false claim should think otherwise as to deceive doctors into awarding over 14% is almost impossible and only makes genuine claims more difficult.

Many cases are assessed as having disabilities over 14% at first, then on the final assessment, when the disability is said to be as it will be for life, are reduced to below 14%, this meaning payment is only made up until the final assessment. An appeal can be lodged if this happens to you and you disagree with the decision. If you have a previous disability of say 5% and another at 10% they should be added to make 15%. One unfortunate individual is known to have at least four separate disabilities as he lost various parts of his anatomy in accidents at work in different incidences.

There is a new scheme hopefully to be introduced in 2007 that will allow the IIDB to claim any payments they make back from the employers responsible for the Disability in question. This may help the Doctors setting the percentage of Disability as it will no longer be seen as a burden on the Government and Tax Payers. Many payments will then be made by the Company responsible.

If you dispute the findings of the IIDB Doctors concerned with your case, you can appeal against their decision, it is common place for people to use the appeal process.

You can claim and represent yourself at these hearings although most people want specialist solicitors to help. If you are in a Union, they will advise what solicitor should represent you.

If making a claim yourself, make sure you have everything attached to your claim form in print explaining everything about how the Disability began and the affect on your life. Also, any medical documents such as test results. Doctors that work for the IIDB will then cross examine you on what you have printed to make sure you are being truthful.