The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that bereaved families could receive more than £56,000 in compensation following changes to two schemes covering asbestos and dust-related diseases.
New rules introduced by the UK Government on October 31 mean eligible dependants can now receive the same compensation amount their loved one would have been entitled to, rather than the reduced payments previously awarded when someone died before claiming. The changes apply across Scotland, England and Wales and are expected to benefit around 300 bereaved families each year.
Increased payments under the schemes
DWP online guidance states that an eligible dependant of someone who died from mesothelioma aged 60 could now receive £56,656 under the 2008 compensation scheme. Previously, the payment would have been £24,526, meaning the changes could increase the award by £32,130 in this example.
The UK Government estimates that the reforms will increase total compensation paid to bereaved families by between £2million and £6million annually.
The changes affect the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 scheme and the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme. Both provide one-off payments in qualifying circumstances where people have developed asbestos or dust-related diseases and have not secured compensation through other routes.
Diseases covered and average payments
Diseases covered by the schemes include mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis, which can develop many years after exposure to harmful substances. In 2025, people affected by these diseases received average compensation payments of around £17,700 through the schemes. However, eligible dependants received an average of £10,700 when the person died before making a claim.
The DWP has now removed the reduced compensation rates for eligible dependants, bringing their awards into line with those available to sufferers. Under the 1979 scheme, for example, an eligible dependant of a 60-year-old worker with a qualifying disablement assessment of 31 to 40 per cent could receive £34,062 instead of £21,011.
The amount awarded depends on the relevant scheme and individual circumstances, including the person's age and, under the 1979 scheme, their assessed level of disablement.
Official response and eligibility
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: "Families should not then face a financial penalty because of that loss." He added: "From today, bereaved families will receive the full compensation their loved ones would have been entitled to, ending a longstanding unfairness in the system."
UK Government Minister for Scotland Melanie Ward welcomed the changes, confirming that families north of the border would also benefit. She said: "Across the UK, this long-awaited reform will increase compensation payments for grieving families." The changes follow years of campaigning by asbestos victims' support organisations and parliamentarians.
The higher dependant payments apply to eligible new claims under the amended rules, but the changes are not retrospective. For the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme, the increased rates apply where the person with the disease died on or after October 31, 2026. People whose loved ones died before that date cannot obtain the increased rate simply by submitting a new claim.
Eligibility also depends on the circumstances of the illness and whether compensation has already been received or is available through another route. Under the 2008 scheme, qualifying exposure to asbestos must have occurred in the UK. This can include exposure outside employment, such as through contact with a family member's contaminated clothing. The 1979 scheme covers certain diseases arising from occupational exposure, subject to its own eligibility conditions.
Dependants claiming under the 2008 scheme generally have 12 months from the date of death to apply. Families can find eligibility information and payment details through the DWP's diffuse mesothelioma guidance on GOV.UK. The official claim form can also be downloaded from GOV.UK, along with information about the evidence required.
The reforms do not replace other compensation routes, and families should check which scheme applies to their circumstances before submitting an application.
