Bereaved families of asbestos victims to receive full compensation from today

Families who lose a loved one to an asbestos-related disease will now receive the full compensation award, after the government ended a rule that meant bereaved relatives were paid thousands of pounds less than sufferers.

From today (31 October), families of workers who died from asbestos or dust-related diseases before they could claim compensation will receive the same amount the worker would have been entitled to. Around 300 families a year are expected to benefit.

Thousands of pounds more

In 2025, workers who developed diseases such as mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis received average payments of around £17,700 through the government's compensation schemes, where they could not claim from an employer. But where the person died before claiming, their families received average payments of around £10,700, about £7,000 less.

Under one scheme, for example, the dependant of a 60-year-old could now receive £56,656 instead of £24,526.

The schemes provide lump-sum payments to people who have developed a dust-related disease through their work, or to their dependants, where they cannot claim damages from an employer, often because the employer no longer exists.

"A long-overdue change"

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: "Losing a loved one to an asbestos-related disease is devastating. Families should not then face a financial penalty because of that loss.

"From today, bereaved families will receive the full compensation their loved ones would have been entitled to, ending a longstanding unfairness in the system.

"This is a long-overdue change that will provide greater support for families at a difficult time."

The change follows decades of campaigning by groups including the Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum UK and by parliamentarians. It is expected to cost between £2 million and £6 million a year.

Jane Lassey, Director of Regulation at the Health and Safety Executive, said: "Asbestos-related diseases continue to cause great suffering, and the effects of past exposure are still being felt by workers and their families."

Who can claim

The new rules apply to new claims from dependants made from 31 October 2026. They cannot be applied to claims made before today.

Birmingham's industrial past

Asbestos was widely used in buildings, factories and workshops for much of the 20th century, and Birmingham's long history of manufacturing and engineering means many families in the city have been affected by asbestos-related illness. Diseases such as mesothelioma can take decades to appear, so people are still being diagnosed today. Families who have lost someone can contact the Department for Work and Pensions to find out whether they can claim.