Mesothelioma & Asbestos Benefit Claims
A diagnosis of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease is life-changing, and thinking about legal processes can feel overwhelming at the most difficult of times. Our specialist asbestos solicitors are here to make this easier.
At Ashtons Legal, we have more than 20 years of experience helping people access mesothelioma benefits, DWP asbestos compensation, and civil compensation. We carry out a full welfare review as standard, identifying every asbestos benefit and government compensation scheme for which you may be eligible.
Recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500, we are members of APIL and signatories to both the Serious Injury Guide and the Rehabilitation Code.
Speak to our mesothelioma and asbestos claims solicitors in East Anglia
If you need support with a mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease claim, please contact our specialist solicitors. Our team offers clear, compassionate advice across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and nationally, including home or hospital visits where needed.
Call us on 0330 404 0749, email enquiries@ashtonslegal.co.uk, or complete our online enquiry form.
Types of asbestos-related disease claims we handle
Our specialist asbestos solicitors act in claims arising from the full range of asbestos-related conditions, including:
- Mesothelioma claims
- Asbestosis claims
- Pleural thickening claims
- Asbestos-related lung cancer claims
- Pleural plaques claims
- Diffuse pleural thickening claims
- Fatal asbestos disease claims on behalf of dependants
For further information see our pages on asbestosis compensation claims and asbestos lung cancer claims.
Common causes of asbestos exposure
Our solicitors represent clients whose exposure to asbestos occurred in a wide range of settings and occupations. Common sources of exposure include:
- Construction and building trades (plumbers, electricians, joiners, plasterers, painters and decorators)
- Shipbuilding and ship repair
- Power stations and heavy industry
- Asbestos manufacturing and insulation work
- Automotive repair and engineering
- Secondary exposure through a family member who worked with asbestos
- Environmental or domestic exposure where the source of exposure cannot be precisely identified
Whatever your circumstances, if your asbestos-related disease claim is linked to asbestos exposure, through employment or otherwise, our solicitors can advise on your options.
Our mesothelioma and asbestos claims service
Your civil compensation claim
To succeed in a civil compensation claim, it must be shown that you were negligently exposed to asbestos and that this exposure caused your disease.
Our solicitors gather employment records, medical evidence, and witness statements; instruct independent medical experts; and assess the full financial consequences of your diagnosis, including future care needs and loss of earnings. We can also seek interim payments to provide financial support while your claim progresses.
Government benefits and statutory payments
Alongside any civil claim, we help you access every UK government asbestos compensation scheme and DWP asbestos compensation payment available to you, at no separate charge.
This includes weekly Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) payments and lump sum mesothelioma financial support through three government schemes, the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979, the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme, and the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS).
You may also be entitled to PIP mesothelioma claimants can access, attendance allowance for mesothelioma sufferers of state pension age, Constant Attendance Allowance for asbestos-related conditions, or a Blue Badge. We carry out a full welfare review as standard. See our FAQs below for detail on each scheme.
Negotiation, mediation and court proceedings
Many asbestos claims are resolved through negotiation once liability and medical evidence are established. We do not advise accepting early settlement offers where the financial or medical picture remains unclear. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we prepare every case thoroughly for litigation. Most claims settle before trial, but if a hearing is required, we will represent you with a firm focus on the best possible outcome.
No win no fee mesothelioma claims
Our civil claims are handled on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis. You pay nothing if your claim is unsuccessful. You can read more on our no win no fee claims page.
Holistic support
Our in-house welfare advisors work alongside our specialist asbestos solicitors, and we have access to a Court of Protection team and colleagues in wills, trusts, employment, and family law, so if your diagnosis raises wider legal needs, we can help.
Time limits for making a mesothelioma or asbestos claim
In most cases you have three years from the date of diagnosis to issue a civil compensation claim. Claims under the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme must be submitted within one year of diagnosis.
Dependants bringing posthumous claims are also subject to time limits. We strongly recommend seeking advice as early as possible. Delay can cost you backdated asbestos disease benefits and weaken your evidence. For more detail, see our page on asbestos compensation time limits.
Why choose Ashtons Legal for your mesothelioma claim?
Ashtons Legal is recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for excellence in personal injury work, including asbestos and mesothelioma claims.
Our team brings more than 20 years of dedicated experience helping patients and families across East Anglia and nationally. We are members of APIL and signatories to the Serious Injury Guide and the Rehabilitation Code.
Our in-house Court of Protection team, rehabilitation advisors, and welfare specialists ensure every aspect of your circumstances is considered. Virtual consultations are available, and your initial discussion is always free.
Frequently asked questions
What is Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)?
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit mesothelioma claimants can access is a weekly DWP payment for people who developed a disease through their work. Mesothelioma is automatically assessed at 100% disablement, so all eligible claimants receive the maximum IIDB rate of £233.90 per week (as at April 2026).
IIDB rates are reviewed each April, payments are backdated to diagnosis, and your exposure must have occurred through employment. We submit your application as part of our standard service at no extra charge.
What mesothelioma benefits and asbestos benefits can I claim?
There are two main routes to government financial support: weekly DWP asbestos compensation through IIDB, and lump sum payments through UK government asbestos compensation schemes.
These sit alongside any civil claim, and you can pursue all of them simultaneously. You may also qualify for PIP for mesothelioma sufferers, attendance allowance mesothelioma patients of state pension age can claim, Constant Attendance Allowance for asbestos-related conditions, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or a Blue Badge.
Can I claim government compensation for asbestos if I was self-employed?
Yes. The 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme covers self-employed people, those exposed through a family member, or those who cannot identify where their exposure occurred. IIDB is not a prerequisite, but claims must be submitted within one year of diagnosis.
What is the difference between the 1979 Act and the 2008 scheme?
The Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979, the main route for pneumoconiosis compensation – requires employed exposure and that you are already receiving IIDB. The 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme has no IIDB requirement and covers the self-employed, domestic exposure, and uncertain exposure histories. Both provide government compensation for asbestos disease as lump sum payments.
What is the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS)?
The Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme is a mesothelioma payment scheme of last resort, funded by the insurance industry, for patients who cannot pursue a civil claim because their former employer has ceased trading and the insurer cannot be traced. It provides a payment broadly equivalent to a court award.
Will I have to repay asbestos benefits if I receive civil compensation?
No. The Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) issues a certificate confirming the value of DWP asbestos compensation paid since diagnosis. The defendant’s insurer deducts that value and refunds the DWP directly – the deduction comes from the insurer, not from your compensation.
How long does a mesothelioma benefit claim take?
IIDB applications are typically processed within a few weeks. Applications under the 1979 Act and 2008 scheme generally take six to twelve weeks. The mesothelioma payment scheme (DMPS) aims to assess applications within four weeks of receiving complete documentation, with payment following within two further weeks.
How long do I have to make a mesothelioma compensation claim?
Three years from diagnosis for a civil claim, and one year from diagnosis for the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme. Dependants are also subject to time limits. Early advice protects your position and avoids losing backdated mesothelioma financial support.
Can family members claim after a death?
Yes. Dependants can make posthumous applications under the 1979 Act, the 2008 scheme, and the DMPS, subject to time limits. Bereavement benefits may also be available.
Do I need to know where I was exposed to asbestos?
Not necessarily. The 2008 scheme covers people who cannot identify exactly where their exposure occurred. For civil claims, our solicitors investigate using employment records, witness evidence, and expert industry knowledge.
Contact our mesothelioma and asbestos claims solicitors in East Anglia
If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos-related disease, our specialist solicitors are here to help. We support clients across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, including home or hospital visits where needed, and act for clients nationally. We also offer virtual consultations.
Call us on 0330 404 0749, email enquiries@ashtonslegal.co.uk, or complete our online enquiry form.