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Sunday, September 12, 2010

Other Financial Resources for Mesothelioma Victims in The USA

Additionally, your attorneys can also help you claim other financial benefits such as state benefits that you are eligible for. This will must be done as soon as possible by your lawyer. In the USA for instance there are several state benefits you can claim among which are: Industrial injuries disablement benefit and pneumoconiosis (worker’s compensation Act 1979) payment among others.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: In the search for money to support yourself and your family you can also consider applying for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). Presently, IIDB is paid when the exposure occurred in the workplace, though this claim policy may change in future but that is the condition that qualifies a victim in the USA for this benefit. Another advantage of this benefit is that IIDB can be claimed even if there are no national insurance contributions by the victim. IIDB is payable from the onset of the illness and can be backdated thirteen weeks from the day of your application.

Unfortunately, if you were exposed to asbestos as a member of HM armed forces you cannot apply for IIDB as a special package has been provided specially by the government through Disablement Pension Scheme. Applications for this are made to either through the Services Personnel and Veterans Agency or The War Pensioners Welfare Service. Another good thing in this benefit application is that, the rules guiding disbursement of IIDB also give room to deceased relatives to lay claim. That is to say, if a family member died as a result of mesothelioma you may still be able to claim compensation within 12 months of the date of death. That is if the appointed person apply within that time for the claim and receive the claim within 6 months of putting across the benefit claim.

As for Pneumoconiosis (Worker’s Compensation Act 1979) Payment: This benefit can equally be applied for if there has been award of IIDB, and the employer that exposed you to asbestos fibres have ceased trading and for this reason, you are not able to press a charge against them. Based on the foregoing, you are qualified to apply for a one off -payment under this scheme (Pneumoconiosis Payment Worker’s Compensation Act of 1979.) The amount paid in the case of mesothelioma is usually determined by the victim’s age. To have a good chance of putting your claim through under this act, the application should be made as soon as you can. The good news in this benefit application,  is that you can file this along side IIDB claim if you want to apply for the two at the same time.

While all these stated means of seeking financial support must not be all, you can also look for funding support and allowances from the following sources: Reduced earnings allowance, constant attendance allowance, exceptionally severe disablement allowance, incapacity allowance, income support or pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit, care-provider’s allowance, home responsibility protection, bereavement benefits and child tax credit, working tax credit among others.

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