New support scheme for mesothelioma victims

A new support scheme for newly diagnosed victims of mesothelioma was announced by the government at the end of July 2012 and the first payments are due to be made in 2014. The scheme will allow around 3,000 mesothelioma victims across the UK who have until now been unable to claim compensation because they could not trace a liable employer or employers’ liability insurer, to receive approximately £300m in payments in the first ten years. These payments will be in addition to the £200m the insurance industry already pays each year in compensating mesothelioma sufferers.

The government confirmed in the Queen’s speech in May 2013 that it will introduce a long-delayed compensation scheme for asbestos victims. The scheme is one of last resort for people with the fatal asbestos-related cancer who are unable to trace their employer’s liability insurance.

But campaign and support groups say that the scheme will exclude hundreds of asbestos victims. It limits support to mesothelioma, rather than all asbestos-related diseases, imposes an eligibility cut-off date of 25 July 2012 and is expected to pay only 70% of average compensation. This means that hundreds of people diagnosed before that date who are unable to trace their employer’s liability insurer will lose out altogether and others will see average compensation cut by 30%.