PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: Asbestosis and Diffuse Pleural Thickening (6 October 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to resume assessments for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits for (a) asbestosis and (b) diffuse pleural thickening as done for other disability benefits.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

Our priority throughout this health emergency continues to be to protect the public and staff, while ensuring people get the benefits they are entitled to quickly and safely. Face-to-face assessments remain suspended while we review what activity we can gradually start reintroducing in line with the latest public health advice. We will confirm next steps as soon as possible.

In the meantime, for claimants with the most serious or terminal conditions, claims continue to be processed and decisions made as normal. We are actively considering how to deal with those cases not currently being processed.

Answered by:
Justin Tomlinson (Conservative)
8 October 2020