benefits and compensation
Patients with incurable asbestos-related cancer have seen processing times for benefits and government compensation double
Mesothelioma patients have seen an increase in processing times for applications from 24 days in 2022 to 48 days in 2023 New research from Mesothelioma UK, the national asbestos-related cancer charity, has confirmed that times for processing benefits and government compensation claims for mesothelioma patients have doubled within a year. This is also our experience…
Read MoreGoing to a solicitor gave us peace of mind
Terri writes: Your benefits advisers, Caroline and Kathryn, were courteous, kind and caring. They were extremely helpful in pointing us in the right direction, This took away a lot of stress and worry at a very difficult time. Their friendliness and advice was very much appreciated. Everything they did was wonderful, from arranging a Blue…
Read MoreIt’s still worth claiming benefits and compensation after low dose exposure to asbestos
Peter Lodge of Cheltenham based law firm, Festival Law, says it’s worth making a claim for low dose exposure to asbestos 58 years ago, on 31 October 1965, the Sunday Times ran an article publicising the risks of developing mesothelioma from exposure to even small levels of asbestos dust. For many years the courts…
Read MoreHave You Got An Access Card?
One of our service users, Sue, drew our attention to the Access Card. For those old enough to remember them, this is not a sort of bank card. Access Cards are issued by a social enterprise company called Nimbus which was set up by disabled people in 2006. Any profits that Nimbus makes are donated…
Read MoreConcessionary Travel on West Midlands Public Transport
If you live in the West Midlands conurbation and have an asbestos related disease you are probably entitled to concessionary travel on buses, trains and trams. The area covered by the concession is Birmingham Coventry Dudley Sandwell Solihull Walsall Wolverhampton It only takes 15 minutes to apply on line. If you have any difficulties with…
Read MoreOne of our service users wins her case against the owners of the shop where she worked
One of our service users, former shop worker Barbara Morris, has won her case against her former employers in Daventry. She’s glad she went to a solicitor. You can read her story here.
Read MoreCuts to DWP services are having a devastating impact on terminally ill claimants
We have been campaigning for some time now to stop the closure of Phoenix House in Barrow. This is the DWP office which – until recently – processed all the fast track claims for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). These are made for people who are terminally ill. In the meantime, the DWP has pressed…
Read MoreSign the petition to save Phoenix House
Readers of our blog will know that on 26 April, and in our summer newsletter, we asked you to write to your MPs about the plans to close Phoenix House. This is the DWP’s specialist centre that deals with asbestos and other occupational disease benefits. It is threatened with closure next year. The skills and…
Read MorePlease help save the Barrow Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre
If you have claimed Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and the government’s Lump Sum Scheme – officially known as the Pneumoconiosis etc. Workers’ Compensation Scheme – you will have dealt with the Barrow-in-Furness office. The planned closure of this site will mean that a wealth of expertise is lost. The Barrow office is a small team…
Read MoreLandmark battle for documents that show Asbestolux manufacturer Cape knew that asbestos insulation board was dangerous
Important historical documents have been saved from destruction thanks to a court battle waged by the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK (the Forum). They will be vital to future asbestos compensation cases. The documents would have been destroyed but for the timely intervention of the Forum. They provide extraordinary evidence that the asbestos manufacturing…
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