Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: up to £233.90 a week for a work injury

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) is for people who became ill or were injured because of an accident at work, or because of an approved industrial disease. It is paid on top of wages or other benefits and is not means-tested — your savings and income are not checked. One key point: it applies only to employment — the self-employed are usually not covered.

How much does it pay?

The amount depends on your assessed level of disablement on a scale of 1 to 100%. The maximum is £233.90 a week at 100%. The in-between levels pay: 90% — £210.51, 80% — £187.12, 70% — £163.73, 60% — £140.34, 50% — £116.95, 40% — £93.56, 30% — £70.17 and 20% — £46.78 a week. You normally need to be assessed at 14% or more to get a payment.

How is the level assessed?

A medical adviser assesses how much the injury or illness limits your functions and gives it a percentage, which sets the weekly amount. Some serious industrial diseases (for example, certain lung conditions) have special assessment rules.

Who can claim?

You must be — or have been at the time — an employee, and have been injured in an accident at work or developed a disease on the approved list of industrial diseases. You can claim even if the accident happened several years ago, but claim sooner so you do not lose payments for the intervening period.

How to claim, and what to remember

You claim on a dedicated form to the DWP (through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre). IIDB can be received alongside most other benefits, but it may affect the calculation of Universal Credit and ESA. If your care needs are substantial, your carer may qualify for Carer's Allowance. Always check the current rates and the list of industrial diseases on GOV.UK — amounts are reviewed every year.