Introduction
If you cannot earn the regular amount of pay you normally receive due to a disease or accident caused at work, you could receive a Reduced Earnings Allowance.
You may also be entitled to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB).
Claiming Reduced Earnings Allowance may affect other income-related benefits which either you or your partner claim. If you receive a state pension, and you’re not in regular employment, you will be entitled to Retirement Allowance, instead of the Reduced Earnings Allowance. All benefits, pensions and allowances will be paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.
Eligibility
You must have an illness or disability which was caused by a work-related accident or disease that happened before 1st October 1990, additionally, you must also meet the following:
- your level of disability is assessed to be at least 1%
- you cannot return to your regular occupation
- you cannot do other work with the same level of earnings as your regular occupation
If your circumstances change, for example, you stop or start work, change of occupation or earnings, then you should notify Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit centre.
Living abroad
If you live abroad permanently, you may not be able to claim a Reduced Earnings Allowance.
If you are temporarily visiting countries outside the European Economic Area, you can normally claim for the first 3 months of your stay.
How to Claim
Firstly, you need to fill in and post off a claim form which is available from the Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit centre, simply give them a call (0800 121 8379), fill in the form and return. You will need to prove your identity when making a claim. You’ll also have to answer questions about your circumstances and background and provide official documents to support that information. Alternatively, you can download the Reduced Earnings Allowance claim form here:
www.nidirect.gov.uk
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