CLAWING BACK CASH
Thousands of ex-miners inline for £1,200 pa work injury pay outs
Former miners across the North East could be hundreds of pounds a year better off after a change in the Government’s industrial disease rules.
Monday’s Budget added Dupuytren’s Contracture – known as ‘miners claw’ – to the list of prescribed diseases for which Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is payable.
Dupuytren’s Contracture causes the fingers to curl over into a claw-like state, and can lead to amputation. The incurable condition is common among former pitmen and also affected former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The change, which is expected to be worth about £1,200 a year for the average claimant, comes after a four-and-a-half-year campaign by the Durham Miners’ Association (DMA).
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) initially recommended the Government recognise the condition as an industrial disease in 2014, but the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) refused to do so.
Earlier this year, Labour MPs from across the region signed an open letter in support of the campaign and DMA Secretary Alan Cummings, alongside City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, and North West Durham MP Laura Pidcock, travelled to London in June to meet DWP Minister Sarah Newton.
She promised a review of the decision, which led to Monday’s announcement. The DMA is seeking clarification on whether benefits will be back-dated.
“We welcome the decision to finally recognise Dupuytren’s Contracture as an industrial disease – but it is a disgrace that it has taken so long, and that there has been such resistance from this Government,” said DMA Secretary Alan Cummings.
Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott welcomed the announcement.
“I am delighted that Dupuytren’s Contracture has eventually been recognised by the Government as an Industrial Disease,” she said.
“However, it is appalling that it has taken so long for them to come to this decision.”
Laura Pidcock said: “The Government were wrong to deny former miners with Dupuytren’s Contracture the help they were entitled to in the first place, and now, they are simply doing the right thing.”
Roberta BlackmanWoods added: “I am absolutely delighted that the Government has finally agreed to take the advice of the Industrial Injury Advisory Council (IIAC) to add Dupuytren’s contracture to the list of known work-related injuries.”