Government to Review Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme

A review of the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) scheme has been announced by the Government. The scheme was set up in 1948 to provide a non-contributory, ‘no fault’ scheme for paying compensation to those injured in an accident at work or made ill because of one of over 70 prescribed diseases known to be a risk from certain jobs. Under the IIDB scheme there is no need to prove that the employer has been negligent. A reduction in its scope could result in a rise in litigation.

 

There are currently 350,000 people claiming IIDB and/or Reduced Earnings Allowance with a total cost per year of approximately £776m.

 

When the IIDB scheme was first established, 61 per cent of jobs were in heavy industry. This figure is now reduced to 30 per cent, with the majority of the current labour force working in office and service occupations.

 

The Government is concerned that claimants need to be moving off benefits and into work. At present, claimants of the IIDB do not automatically have access to the Pathways to Work scheme. This scheme aims to help those who have health problems to get back into the workplace and provides training and education.

 

The consultation stage of the review runs until 22 April 2007. The consultation paper can be found here.