Citation, commencement and application

1.–(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers´ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 and shall come into force on the 1st April 2008.

(2) These Regulations shall apply in relation to any case in which a person first fulfils the conditions of entitlement to a payment under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers´ Compensation) Act 1979 on or after the day on which they come into force.

Amendment of Regulations

2. In the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers´ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Regulations 1988(2)–

(a) for the Schedule to those Regulations substitute the Schedule set out in the Schedule to these Regulations;

(b) in regulations 5(1) and 8 (minimum amounts payable to dependant), for the amount "£2,392" substitute the amount "£2,485";

(c) in regulation 6(1)(a) (payment where pneumoconiosis is accompanied by tuberculosis), for the amount "£4,947" (in both places) substitute the amount "£5,140".

Regulation 2(a)

SCHEDULE

Regulations 3, 4, 5 and 6

"SCHEDULE

TABLE 1

1. This table is for the determination of payments to disabled persons under regulation 3 (or, as the case may be, regulation 6), and for the determination of payments to dependants of deceased sufferers under regulation 4(1).

2. The relevant period is the period specified in regulation 3(2) or (3) or, in the case of a disabled person to whom regulation 6 applies, the first period specified in regulation 6(1)(b).

3.–(1) The age of the disabled person is his age determined in accordance with regulation 3(2) or (3) or, in the case of a disabled person to whom regulation 6 applies, regulation 6(1)(b).

(2) In determining the amount payable to a dependant of a disabled person under regulation 4(1), the age to be taken for the purpose of calculating the sum to be deducted from the amount which would have been payable to the disabled person had he still been alive is the age of the deceased at his last birthday preceding his death.

4. Part A of the table prescribes payments to disabled persons to whom Disablement Benefit is payable under section 108 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(3), or under any corresponding provision of the former Industrial Injuries Acts(4), or would be payable but for the disablement amounting to less than the appropriate percentage.

5. Part B of the table prescribes payments to disabled persons to whom an allowance is payable under a scheme made or having effect as if made under paragraph 4 of Schedule 8 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, or under any corresponding provision of the former Old Cases Acts(5).

PART A

PART B

TABLE 2

1. This table is for the determination of payments to dependants of deceased sufferers under regulation 4(2) or (6).

2. The relevant period is the period specified in regulation 3(2) or (3) or, in the case of a disabled person to whom regulation 6 applies, the first period specified in regulation 6(1)(b).

3.–(1) Parts A and B of the table prescribe payments to dependants of disabled persons who died as a result of a disease other than diffuse mesothelioma.

(2) Part C of the table prescribes payments to dependants of disabled persons who died as a result of diffuse mesothelioma.

4. Part A of the table prescribes payments to–

(a) dependants to whom death benefit under section 108 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 is payable;

(b) dependants of a person to whom disablement benefit under that section or under any corresponding provision of the former Industrial Injuries Acts was payable immediately before he died;

(c) dependants of a person to whom disablement benefit would have been payable immediately before he died but for the occurrence of one of the circumstances listed in regulation 5(1)(a)(iii), or but for his disablement amounting to less than the appropriate percentage.

5. Part B of the table prescribes payments to–

(a) dependants to whom death benefit has been paid under a scheme made or having effect as if made under paragraph 4 of Schedule 8 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992;

(b) dependants of persons to whom an allowance was payable under such a scheme or under a scheme made or having effect as if made under any corresponding provision of the former Old Cases Acts.

PART A

PART B

PART C

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers´ Compensation) Act 1979 ("the Act") lump sum payments may be made to certain persons disabled by a disease to which the Act applies, or to dependants of persons who were so disabled before they died.

These Regulations amend the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers´ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988/668) so as to increase the amounts payable under the Act. The increase in each case is 3.9 per cent rounded up or down to the nearest £1 as appropriate.

The diseases to which the Act applies are pneumoconiosis, byssinosis, diffuse mesothelioma, primary carcinoma of the lung (where accompanied by asbestosis or diffuse pleural thickening) and diffuse pleural thickening.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business, charities and voluntary bodies.