How much is IIDB 2026?

The maximum IIDB for 100% disablement is £226.40 per week in 2026/27. The amount reduces proportionally — 50% disablement pays £113.20/week, 20% disablement pays the minimum of £45.28/week. There are also extra supplements for severe disablement and constant attendance.

Can I claim IIDB if I'm still working?

Yes. IIDB is not means-tested and doesn't depend on your current employment or income. You can work full-time, part-time, or be unemployed and still receive IIDB. It doesn't affect most other benefits either.

What accidents count for IIDB?

Any accident that happened at work or while travelling for work (not commuting), and that caused lasting disability. This includes slips, falls, equipment injuries, violence at work, and accidents during work-related training. The accident must have occurred while you were an employee.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) Guide UK 2026

Q: What is Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit?

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) is a weekly tax-free payment for people who became disabled because of an accident at work or a prescribed industrial disease. It pays between £45.28 and £226.40 per week depending on your level of disability.

Complete guide to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit including rates, eligibility, how to claim, and what counts as an industrial injury or prescribed disease.

By PocketWise · 15 April 2026 · 6 min read Updated for 2026/27 tax year

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.

IIDB and Other Benefits

Benefits You Can Get Alongside IIDB

Benefit	Can You Get Both?
PIP	Yes — completely separate
ESA	Yes — IIDB may be partially deducted
Universal Credit	Yes — IIDB not counted as income
State Pension	Yes — no effect
Attendance Allowance	No — can’t get both, but Constant Attendance Allowance may be added
Housing Benefit	Yes — IIDB not counted
Council Tax Reduction	Yes — IIDB not counted

ESA and IIDB

If you receive Employment and Support Allowance:

IIDB Amount	Effect on ESA
IIDB £80/week	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.