Families across Scotland who have lost loved ones to asbestos and other occupational dust diseases can now receive thousands of pounds more in compensation following changes introduced on Saturday 31 October.

The new rules end a longstanding difference between payments made to workers suffering from these diseases and those available to their families when a worker died before making a claim.

Around 300 families across the UK are expected to benefit annually, following decades of campaigning by asbestos victims’ organisations and parliamentarians.

In Scotland, 260 compensation awards were made to sufferers during 2025 under government schemes designed to support people who could not recover damages from their employers.

Workers suffering from asbestos or dust related diseases, including mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis, received average payments of approximately £17,700 last year.

However, where an eligible worker died before submitting a claim, their dependants received an average of just £10,700.

The difference could be considerably greater depending on the circumstances, with the family of a qualifying 60 year old worker now entitled to receive £56,656 instead of £24,526 under the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme.

The reforms also apply to the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979 scheme, which provides financial support where compensation cannot be recovered from an employer.

These arrangements are particularly important for asbestos victims because symptoms can take decades to appear, often long after the employer responsible has ceased trading.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said:

“Losing a loved one to an asbestos-related disease is devastating.

“Families should not then face a financial penalty because of that loss.

“From today, bereaved families in Scotland will receive the full compensation their loved ones would have been entitled to, ending a longstanding unfairness in the system.  

“This is a long-overdue change that will provide greater support for families at a difficult time.”  

UK Government Minister for Scotland Melanie Ward said:

“For far too long, the families of workers who have suffered from the devastating effects of asbestos and dust-related diseases have been short-changed by outdated compensation rules.

“I’m glad that from today, the UK Government is putting an end to this injustice, including for victims in Scotland, by scrapping reduced payments for dependants.

“Across the UK, this long-awaited reform will increase compensation payments for grieving families.

“I pay tribute to the campaigners who have fought for many years to make this change happen.”

Jane Lassey, Director of Regulation at the Health and Safety Executive said:

“Asbestos-related diseases continue to cause great suffering, and the effects of past exposure are still being felt by workers and their families.

“This change means bereaved families will receive the support their loved ones would have been entitled to.

“HSE’s priority remains preventing future harm.

“We will keep working with employers, workers and partners to make sure the risks from asbestos are understood and managed, so that fewer families have to go through this loss.”

The changes follow campaigning by organisations including the Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum UK, with the additional compensation expected to cost between £2 million and £6 million annually.

Both compensation schemes provide lump sum payments to eligible sufferers or their dependants where damages cannot otherwise be obtained from an employer.

For families affected by diseases caused by historic workplace exposure, the reforms mean that death before a claim is submitted will no longer result in a reduced compensation entitlement.

The corresponding compensation scheme in Northern Ireland is expected to introduce similar changes in due course.