The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that dependants of asbestos and dust-disease victims will now receive the same compensation rate as sufferers, ending a £7,000 shortfall. The change, laid before Parliament this week, means dependants will receive £17,700 on average, matching the rate currently paid to sufferers. The new legislation comes into force on 31 October 2026.
Ending the unfair discrepancy
For years, dependants have received a lower one-off payment than sufferers. On average, sufferers receive £17,700, while dependants receive £10,700 – a shortfall of £7,000. The DWP, under Andy Burnham’s government, is laying legislation to end this injustice, ensuring dependants receive the same rate as sufferers, in full.
Workers who develop asbestos-related and dust-related diseases like mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis caused by their work can claim a one-off payment from the Government if they haven’t already secured compensation from their employer. The new system will apply to dependants in the same way.
Minister and HSE response
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability, said: “Families who have lost a loved one to a disease caused by their work deserve our support, not a system that treats them as an afterthought. That’s exactly what’s been happening, and campaigners have been telling us for over a decade that it’s wrong. Today we’re fixing it. Fairer, simpler, clearer support for families, at an incredibly difficult time in their lives.”
Jane Lassey, Director of Regulation at the Health and Safety Executive, said: “The devastating impact of asbestos-related disease and the terrible legacy of past exposure underscores why it is vital that we continue to protect people from the dangers it can pose. That is why we continue to deliver guidance, awareness-raising campaigns, and enforcement activity to protect people from harm.”
Impact on claimants
In 2025, 2,730 sufferers received an award and a further 300 awards were paid to dependants at the lower rate. The new system will change that, ensuring dependants receive the same rate as sufferers in full. The changes will come into force on 31 October 2026, providing fairer compensation for bereaved families.
