Families and former heavy‑industry workers in Northern Ireland will see a small but important uplift in one‑off compensation for dust‑related diseases this spring. From 1 April 2026 - or the day after the Assembly affirms the rule, if later - the Department for Communities will increase payments under the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers’ Compensation) scheme by 3.8%. The Committee for Communities considered the proposal (SL1) on 8 January 2026 ahead of the affirmative vote required at Stormont. (aims.niassembly.gov.uk)

Two headline figures change. The minimum lump sum when a death is attributed to diffuse mesothelioma rises from £4,092 to £4,248, and the enhanced amount where pneumoconiosis is accompanied by tuberculosis goes from £8,466 to £8,788. The rest of the tariff tables in the regulations are uprated by the same 3.8%, rounded to the nearest pound.

The 1979 Scheme exists for people with one of five dust‑related diseases who cannot pursue civil damages because the employer responsible has closed, and for dependants of those who have died. A 2024 Department for Communities screening note confirms the scope and sets out updates aligning specified diseases with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit definitions - including unilateral diffuse pleural thickening and asbestos‑related primary carcinoma of the lung. (communities-ni.gov.uk)

The 3.8% increase mirrors wider welfare uprating pegged to September 2025 CPI, keeping Northern Ireland broadly in step with Great Britain, where equivalent 1979 Act payments also take effect from 1 April 2026. For claimants and advisers, it means tariffs move together across jurisdictions even though the NI scheme is a separate legal instrument. (communities-ni.gov.uk)

Alongside the 1979 Scheme sits a distinct diffuse mesothelioma lump‑sum scheme in Northern Ireland for cases where an IIDB‑linked route or employer liability is not available. Awards are age‑banded - for example, the nidirect service lists £22,612 for a 70‑year‑old at diagnosis - and claims must be made within 12 months of diagnosis or death. (nidirect.gov.uk)

Most 1979 Scheme claims hinge on an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) decision for a prescribed disease and must be lodged within 12 months of that decision; dependants have 12 months from the date of death. Guidance on nidirect also makes clear the scheme is for dust diseases caused by employment where civil action is not possible because the employer has ceased trading. (nidirect.gov.uk)

If you think you qualify, gather medical evidence and work history now and speak to the Industrial Injuries Branch for forms and advice; the Department for Communities signposts contact routes via nidirect. Local welfare rights services can help families pull paperwork together quickly so payments are not delayed once the rule is in force. (communities-ni.gov.uk)

This matters on the ground. HSENI estimates work‑related ill health costs Northern Ireland over £390m a year, with around 300 deaths annually. For communities shaped by shipbuilding, engineering and construction - and for Northern families with ties across the Irish Sea - even a modest uprating helps cover immediate bills or funeral costs when illness hits. (hseni.gov.uk)

What happens next is procedural: the rule has been prepared and takes effect on 1 April 2026 (or the day after the Assembly vote, if later). For workers and dependants, the practical next step is straightforward - check IIDB status, confirm disease category, and get the claim in within the time limits so the uprated amounts apply without fuss.