Asbestos compensation injustice ended for bereaved families

From today, families of workers who died from asbestos-related diseases before claiming compensation will receive the same average payment as those who lived to make a claim. Previously, dependants received around £10,700 in 2025, approximately £7,000 less than the average payment made to sufferers. The change ensures bereaved families are no longer financially penalised for their loss due to outdated rules. The UK Government states this addresses a historic unfairness in the compensation system for asbestos victims.

Under the updated rules, a 60-year-old claimant’s dependant would now receive £56,656 instead of £24,526, matching the full entitlement their loved one would have received. The reform applies to new dependant claims made from 31 October 2026 and does not cover retrospective claims. The changes follow an independent legal review recommending updates to reduce legal and reputational risks in the compensation schemes.

The legislation scraps reduced payments for dependants, ensuring families receive the same compensation as if the victim had lived to claim. This reform applies across the UK, including Scotland, and follows decades of campaigning by groups such as the Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum UK. The UK Government estimates the change will cost between £2 million and £6 million per year to implement.

The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979 and the 2008 Diffuse Mesotheoma Scheme provide lump-sum compensation to workers or their dependants when employers no longer exist. Under the 1979 Scheme, a 60-year-old diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease receives £34,062, while a dependant previously received £21,011 if the victim died before claiming. The new law ensures dependants receive the full £34,062, aligning payments with the victim’s entitlement.