Asbestos compensation injustice ended for bereaved families
What was announced
From today (31st October), families of workers who have died from asbestos-related diseases before claiming compensation will now receive the full award.
Key points, in the publisher's words
- Government ends system that penalised bereaved families during their most difficult times.
- Around 300 families a year to benefit from full compensation rate for workers who have died from asbestos related diseases.
- Families to receive significantly more following decades of campaigning
Figures in this announcement
Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.
- “Families to receive significantly more following decades of campaigning In 2025, workers who developed asbestos-related or dust-related diseases, such as mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis, received average payments of around £17,700 through the Government’s compensation schemes where compensation had not otherwise been secured from an employer.”
- “Before today’s change, where an eligible person died before making a claim, their loved ones received average payments of around £10,700 in 2025, around £7,000 less than the average payment made to sufferers.”
- “For a 60-year-old claimant, a dependant could now receive £56,656 instead of £24,526.”
- “After decades of campaigning from groups including the Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum UK and parliamentarians, the legislation now rights a historic wrong, ensuring bereaved families receive the same compensation entitlement as sufferers, at an estimated cost of between £2 million and £6 million per year.”
- “Under the 2008 Scheme. a 60-year-old claimant would receive £56,656, while an eligible dependant currently receives £24,526 if no claim was made before death.”
- “Under the new law, the dependant would receive the full £56,656.”
Who and where
People
- Sir Stephen Timms (MP for East Ham (Labour)) · more news
- Melanie Ward (MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy (Labour)) · more news
UK bodies of power
- Department for Work and Pensions (UK government department) · more news
- Health and Safety Executive (executive non-departmental public body) · more news
Constituencies of the MPs named: East Ham, Cowdenbeath And Kirkcaldy.
Where this sits in the 10 levels of power
Topics, as GOV.UK files them: Death and bereavement.
Receipt
- Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/asbestos-compensation-injustice-ended-for-bereaved-families
- Published 2026-10-31 00:01:00 UTC
- Read by this site 2026-10-31 00:15:10 UTC from GOV.UK
- Saved copy: receipt 5321, with its SHA-256 fingerprint
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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