The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that changes introduced by the UK Government on October 31 allow eligible dependants to receive the same compensation amount their loved one would have been entitled to, rather than the reduced payments previously awarded when someone died before making a claim.
The changes apply across Scotland, England and Wales and are expected to benefit around 300 bereaved families each year. Online DWP guidance states that an eligible dependant of someone who died from mesothelioma aged 60 could now receive £56,656 under the 2008 compensation scheme, compared with £24,526 previously.
Two schemes affected
The changes affect the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 scheme and the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme, which provide one-off payments in qualifying circumstances where people have developed asbestos or dust-related diseases and have not secured compensation through other routes.
The UK Government estimates that the reforms will increase total compensation paid to bereaved families by between £2 million and £6 million annually.
Eligibility and application details
Eligibility 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, which can include exposure outside employment, such as through contact with a family member's contaminated clothing.
Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: "Families should not then face a financial penalty because of that loss. From today, bereaved families will receive the full compensation their loved ones would have been entitled to, ending a longstanding unfairness in the system."
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, where the official claim form can also be downloaded along with information on the required evidence.
