Industrial injuries disability benefits

The industrial injuries scheme exists to compensate people who have become disabled as a result of an industrial disease or accident at work.

The main benefit of the scheme is Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB).

Even if you have a prescribed disease and are in a related occupation it can still be extremely difficult to prove that your RSI condition is a direct result of your work.

You do not have to have made any national insurance contributions to qualify for IIDB. In addition IIDB is not means-tested, therefore you can claim regardless of any income or savings you have. Even if you are still in employment you may be able to claim.

You may qualify for IIDB if you have an RSI type conidtion. Qualifying for IIDB is not automatic:

• you have to show that you are suffering from a prescribed disease,
• that you are in an occupation prescribed for that disease and
• that your condition is as a direct result of that occupation.

It is important to remember that only 6 of the conditions generally regarded as RSI type conditions are classified as an industrial disease for the purposes of IIDB.

It is imperative that all occurrences relating to your condition have been logged in your employer's accident book.

To receive IIDB
If your claim is accepted you will have to have a medical examination to assess the extent of your disability resulting from the disease.

To qualify for IIDB you will have to be regarded as at least 14% disabled.