Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) Guide UK 2026
Complete guide to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit including rates, eligibility, how to claim, and what counts as an industrial injury or prescribed disease.
Benefits information is based on current DWP and HMRC rules. Entitlements depend on your personal circumstances. For free personalised help, contact Citizens Advice or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Contents
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) is a tax-free weekly payment if you became disabled because of an accident at work or a prescribed industrial disease.
IIDB Rates 2026/27
Weekly Rates by Disablement Level
Disablement Assessment
Weekly Rate
Annual Equivalent
100%
£226.40
£11,773
90%
£203.76
£10,596
80%
£181.12
£9,418
70%
£158.48
£8,241
60%
£135.84
£7,064
50%
£113.20
£5,886
40%
£90.56
£4,709
30%
£67.92
£3,532
20% (minimum)
£45.28
£2,355
Under 20%
£0
No payment
Key point: You must be assessed as at least 14% disabled to receive IIDB. Assessments between 14-19% are rounded up to 20%.
Extra Supplements
Supplement
Weekly Amount
Who Qualifies
Constant Attendance Allowance (lower)
£45.70
Need daily attendance for your disability
Constant Attendance Allowance (full day)
£91.40
Need full-time daily attendance
Constant Attendance Allowance (exceptional)
£182.80
Need exceptional care
Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance
£91.40
Receiving highest CAA and need permanent attendance
Reduced Earnings Allowance
Up to £90.56
Regular employment impossible (accidents before Oct 1990)
Retirement Allowance
Up to £22.64
Replacing REA when you reach State Pension age
What Is Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit?
Who It’s For
Criteria
Details
Employment status at time of injury
Must have been an employed earner (not self-employed)
Type of injury
Accident at work OR prescribed industrial disease
Level of disability
At least 14% disabled (assessed by medical professional)
Time limit
Can claim years after the accident
What Makes IIDB Different
Feature
IIDB
Means-tested?
No — your income and savings don’t matter
Taxable?
No — completely tax-free
Affects other benefits?
Usually not — can receive alongside most benefits
Need National Insurance?
No — based on the accident, not contributions
What Counts as an Industrial Injury?
Accidents at Work
Type of Accident
Examples
Falls
Falling from ladders, scaffolding, stairs
Equipment injuries
Cut by machinery, crush injuries, electric shock
Manual handling
Back injuries from heavy lifting
Violence
Assault by a member of the public, colleague
Vehicle accidents
While driving or travelling for work (not commuting)
Slips and trips
Wet floors, uneven surfaces, obstacles
Burns
Hot liquids, chemicals, fires
What Doesn’t Count
Situation
Why Not
Commuting accident
Not “at work” — unless driving for your job
Self-employed injury
Must be an employee
Accident at home (working from home)
May count if during work duties — case by case
Injury from a hobby
Not work-related
Prescribed Industrial Diseases
IIDB also covers prescribed industrial diseases — conditions caused by specific types of work.
Common Prescribed Diseases
Disease
Occupations
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Repetitive hand/wrist work (e.g., assembly line, typing)
Occupational deafness
Work with loud machinery, music industry
Mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure (construction, shipbuilding)
Asbestosis
Asbestos exposure
Vibration white finger
Using vibrating tools (e.g., jackhammers, chainsaws)
Contact dermatitis
Exposure to chemicals, certain substances
Occupational asthma
Work with dusts, chemicals, animals
Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis
Mining
Silicosis
Stone cutting, foundry work
Chronic bronchitis/emphysema
Coal mining (underground for 20+ years)
Lead poisoning
Work with lead
Bursitis
Prolonged kneeling (e.g., carpet laying, mining)
Tenosynovitis
Repetitive manual work
Writer’s cramp
Prolonged writing (rare)
Diffuse pleural thickening
Asbestos exposure
COVID-19
Occupation
COVID-19 as Prescribed Disease?
Healthcare workers
Potentially yes — added as prescribed disease
Care home staff
Potentially yes
Other occupations
Case-by-case assessment
How IIDB Is Assessed
The Medical Assessment
Step
What Happens
1
You submit a claim with details of your accident/disease
2
DWP reviews your claim
3
You’re invited for a medical assessment
4
A healthcare professional assesses your disability
5
They determine your “disablement percentage”
6
Decision letter sent with payment details
Disablement Percentage
The assessment compares you to a person of the same age and sex without your condition.
Example Condition
Typical Assessment
Loss of both hands
100%
Loss of one hand
60%
Loss of thumb
30%
Loss of index finger
14%
Loss of hearing in both ears
100%
Loss of hearing in one ear
20%
Severe back injury (can’t work)
40-80%
Chronic pain limiting daily activities
20-50%
Note: These are examples only. Your actual assessment depends on your specific circumstances.
Reassessment
Situation
What Happens
Condition expected to improve
Review date set (e.g., 2 years)
Condition stable/permanent
May be awarded indefinitely
Condition worsens
You can request a reassessment
How to Claim IIDB
Claim Process
Step
Action
1
Get form BI100A from GOV.UK or call 0800 121 8379
2
Complete the form with accident/disease details
3
Include medical evidence if available
4
Send to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre
5
Attend medical assessment if required
6
Receive decision (usually 6-8 weeks)
Information You Need
Information
Details
Date of accident
Exact date, or when you first noticed disease
Where it happened
Workplace address
What happened
Detailed description
Employer name
At time of accident
Medical treatment
Hospital, GP visits
Current limitations
What you can/can’t do now
Time Limits
Type of Claim
Time Limit
Accident
Can claim at any time after the accident
Industrial disease
Can claim when you’re diagnosed
Backdating
Payments start from date of claim (no backdating)
Important: Claim as soon as possible. IIDB is not backdated before your claim date.
ESA reduced by portion of IIDB (complex calculation)
IIDB with supplements
Only the basic IIDB may reduce ESA
Note: The interaction is complex. Contact DWP for a calculation specific to your situation.
Can I Still Claim If I’m Working?
Situation
Can You Claim IIDB?
Working full-time
Yes
Working part-time
Yes
Returned to original job
Yes
Changed jobs
Yes
Unemployed
Yes
Retired
Yes
Self-employed now
Yes (if employee when injured)
IIDB is about the disablement from the accident — not about whether you’re currently working.
Challenging a Decision
If You Disagree
Step
Action
1
Ask for Mandatory Reconsideration within 1 month
2
Send in any new medical evidence
3
DWP reviews the decision
4
If still unhappy, appeal to tribunal
Appeal Tips
Tip
Details
Get medical evidence
GP letters, consultant reports
Describe daily impact
How the injury affects everyday activities
Keep a diary
Document good days and bad days
Consider representation
Citizens Advice, welfare rights adviser
Common Questions
Can I Claim for an Old Injury?
Yes. There is no time limit for claiming IIDB after an accident. If you were injured at work 20 years ago and still have a disability, you can claim now. However, payments only start from your claim date.
What If My Employer Is No Longer Trading?
IIDB is paid by the government, not your employer. It doesn’t matter if your employer has closed down, gone bankrupt, or you’ve lost contact with them.
Can I Claim IIDB and Compensation?
Yes. IIDB is separate from personal injury compensation. You can:
Claim IIDB from the government
Pursue a personal injury claim against your employer
Receive both
However, if you receive a large compensation settlement, it may affect means-tested benefits (but not IIDB itself).
What If I Was Partly at Fault?
You can still claim IIDB even if the accident was partly your fault. IIDB is based on the disablement, not on who was to blame. That said, for personal injury compensation, contributory negligence may reduce your award.
Summary of 2026/27 IIDB Rates
Rate
Amount
Maximum IIDB (100% disablement)
£226.40/week
Minimum IIDB (20% disablement)
£45.28/week
Constant Attendance Allowance (full day)
£91.40/week
Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance
£91.40/week
Reduced Earnings Allowance (max)
£90.56/week
Next step: Call the Industrial Injuries helpline on 0800 121 8379 or download form BI100A from GOV.UK to start your claim.