Accident at Work - benefits

Becles

My friend had an accident at work and is currently off on the sick. She fell down a flight of stairs and injured her back. She is due to see her GP on Tuesday, and is hoping to get more of an idea of how long her recovery will take.

She recieved a letter yesterday, and showed it to me as she didn't understand it. I don't understand it either, so would appreciate some help.

Anyone making an entry in the accident book at work is entitled to register it with their local DSS office. This is because under the Industrial Injuries Provisions of the Social Security Acts, insurance for accidents may be provided.

In order to ensure that you recieve benefits that may be due to you under these acts, you should apply to the Department of Social Security nearest your home address for a declaration form. You are fully entitled to claim disablement benefit and income support from the DSS in accordance with the current DSS regulations, while still being paid by *employers name*

What does this mean?

She is currently on full sick pay, so didn't think she would be entitled to any benefits?

Fran

It is to do with any future problems that she might have which involves her back injury, I think it's Industrial Injuries Benefit, it's proof for the insurance of when it happened. CAB would tell her the exact details, she could phone the disability helpline (see useful links for no.) to ask too.

The reference to claiming disablement benefit is that you can claim Disability Living Allowance while employed as it is not a means tested benefit but given for the extra costs of a disability. With income support if she has very low income and wasn't entitled to statutory sick pay or Incapacity Benefit (IB - not enough contributions) then she could put in a claim for Income Support.

Citizens Advice - adviceguide has info on all the benefits.

Quincy_3

One thing is if she has waited until Monday to see the GP then she wont get anything more than sickpay as she didnt go to an accident department so she wont get any compo if lets say the stairs were unsafe.

singlehouseholder

You can claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit- which is exactly what it says. Its strictly for those who have had an accident at work, and are disabled by it, the disability is assesed by %, and the % of disability will determine the rate at which you are paid.
Also bear in mind, any state benefits paid as a result of an accident for which you claim compensation will need to be reimbursed. This payment would come from the COMPENSATOR and not the injured person, as comonly believed....
Hope this was a help.

Becles

Thanks for the links. I've had a read and I don't think the disability thing would apply. She can manage day to day stuff like getting dressed, and light houswork like washing the dishes. It's just things where you use your back she can't do, like hoovering and hanging the washing out.

She just needs to make sure she gets her wages covered until she's fit to return to work. Hopefully the GP will advise a recovery timescale on Tuesday.