The Industrial Injuries Scheme provides non-contributory benefits for disablement arising out of an accident at work or a "prescribed" disease which is accepted as a particular occupational risk.
The main benefit is Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) . It is paid to those whose disablement is assessed at more than 14% except for those who have contracted pneumoconiosis, byssinosis or diffuse mesothelioma where the requirement is only 1%.
Anyone who is employed can claim IIDB provided they can show that the injury or disease arose out of and in the course of work. With regard to accidents claimants will need to show that the injury occurred as the result of an unexpected event. The DWP Decision Makers' guide defines an accident as "a mishap or untoward event which is not planned or wished by the employed earner"
The Social Security Commissioners have accepted that "verbal sexual harassment could amount to an accident or series of accidents". The disability caused by the accident is defined as the loss of "physical and mental faculty." Volunteers and the self-employed are not covered by the scheme.
There is a distinction made between injury by accident and injury by process. Injury by process is defined as "a contiuous process going on substantially from day to day but not necessarily from from minute to minute or even from hour to hour and the process produces incapacity gradually over a period of years". Injury by process is not covered by the industrial injuries scheme
Benefit can also be paid to claimants who have contracted "prescribed diseases". There are more than 60 prescribed diseases and these are described as being risks specific to certain occupations and not common to the general population.
There are a number of additional benefits which may be available to those who are assessed as disabled.-
The rates of pay for IIDB depends on the extent and severity of the disability.
