Most people dread going to work daily, as they may have to face certain workplace obstacles that others don’t, such as work inaccessibility and limited growth opportunities. Fortunately, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced it will pay £11,715 across 2026, but few know they’re eligible for this benefit. Discover what the eligibility requirements are today to see whether you may qualify for an additional payment in the new year. It could end up making a world of difference in your monthly budget.
DWP will pay £11,715 across 2026
Not all of us can be so lucky as to work in a safe and well-maintained work environment that promotes open-mindedness and fairness. Unfortunately, some people must face numerous workplace obstacles daily, especially people with certain disabilities or illnesses. In the UK, the “economic inactivity crisis” is on the rise due to people suffering from long-term health conditions.
A report by Disability charity Scope UK pointed out that several workplace obstacles also discourage some of these people from returning to work, including:
- Inflexible work hours and structures
- Work inaccessibility
- Insufficient adjustments
- Negative attitudes and discrimination
As a result, a significant number of people with long-term disabilities or illnesses have to face the risk of poverty. Fortunately, the DWP will be paying out £11,715 across 2026, but few know they’re eligible for this benefit.
Few know they’re eligible for this benefit
The DWP is responsible for several pensions, child support, and welfare and manages benefit distributions, such as the State Pension benefits, which will be higher than initially thought in 2026. The department is also increasing awareness of the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
To qualify for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, specific eligibility requirements must be met. To receive payment for a disease developed at work, or a training programme or course, you must have one of the over 70 qualifying diseases, which include but are not limited to:
- Asbestos-related diseases
- Unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening
- Primary carcinoma of the lung with and without asbestosis
- Diffuse mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Prescribed disease A11
- Osteoarthritis of the knee (coal miner’s)
- Pneumoconiosis
- Deafness
- COPD
- Ashtma
The full list of qualifying diseases is available on the UK Government website. To receive benefits for accidents that led to disability or illness, you had to be employed and have suffered from the accident at an approved employment programme or course in either Wales, Scotland, or England.
How much the benefit will truly pay out
According to the UK Government website, the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit will not distribute the full annual £11,715 to everyone. To receive payment, a ‘medical advisor’ must assess you on a scale from 0-100%. If you are disabled at 14% or higher, you will receive benefits. The government released a guide as to how much one could expect each week, per percentage of disability:
- 20% – £45.06 weekly
- 30% – £67.59 weekly
- 40% – £90.12 weekly
- 50% – £112.65 weekly
- 60% – £135.18 weekly
- 70% – £157.71 weekly
- 80% – £180.24 weekly
- 90% – £202.77 weekly
- 100% – £225.30 weekly (adds up to £11,715 annually)
Please note that receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits may impact the amounts of the following benefit programmes:
- Pension Credit
- Housing Credit
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Your Council Tax Reduction may also be impacted, but that will depend on your local council. So, while life may be seemingly unfair to some people, there is a silver lining here and there to make life easier. If you meet all the eligibility requirements, but are not benefiting from the programme yet, you can download the appropriate claim form from the UK Government website or claim by phone. While you await the results of your claim application, you may want to review the HMRC’s £48.5 million operation that is targeting State Pensioners.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of one-off payments, support payments, tax reliefs, tax refunds, tax credits and other payments is based on the official sources listed in the article. All payment amounts and dates, as well as eligibility requirements, are subject to change by the governing institutions. Always consult the official source we provide to stay up to date and obtain information for your decision-making.