Mesothelioma Compensation and the Royal Navy

On 16 December 2015 the Ministry of Defence changed their policy to allow service members diagnosed with mesothelioma to decide whether they want to receive a lump sum or traditional war pension. The decision did not apply to all veterans who had been already diagnosed with mesothelioma.

This includes Rhod Palmer and Fred Minall, who were exposed to asbestos while in their military service as well as in civilian jobs. This was a terrible injustice to their families and the people they loved.

The law has changed

Mesothelioma is a fatal and aggressive cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos can take a long time to develop. It can take decades before symptoms are evident and once diagnosed, most sufferers will live for a minimum of just one or two years.

The decision of the Government to amend the law is a huge step forward. Veterans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma could decide to receive a pension or a lump sum of up to 140 000 francs. This is a more substantial amount than the typical civil award.

Prior to the changes, veterans of the armed forces diagnosed with Mesothelioma only had access to the War Disablement Pension. It was an income that was regular and monthly, and was not appropriate for those suffering from severe long-term diseases such as mesothelioma. Furthermore, it was not possible to receive lump sum compensation under the War Pension Scheme.

After a lot of lobbying, which was supported by the Royal British Legion and Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum, the law has been modified to allow veterans of the armed forces diagnosed with mesothelioma access to an amount of up to PS140,000, in addition to the traditional War Pension. The lump sum is tax-free.

A mesothelioma diagnosis previously could have earned a war-related disability pension of up to PS32,000 in the event that the patient was single or divorced. In contrast, civilians with mesothelioma can receive up to PS600,000. This is under the Government's Diffuse mesothelioma compensation payouts Scheme.

All veterans of the armed forces diagnosed with mesothelioma are eligible to choose this option. It will also be accessible to those who were exposed to asbestos both during their armed forces service and in other circumstances known as "dual exposure".

Mesothelioma UK is already helping former sailors, soldiers and other armed service personnel with their mesothelioma claims. We can help them to understand the new law and the issues involved. We can also assist clients to determine the best method to get compensation. This could include tracing the companies that could be responsible for their exposure to asbestos.

The lump sum will be PS140,000

The amount of compensation given to sufferers is based on several factors, like age, the impact mesothelioma has on the lifespan and the level of care required. The amount of compensation given to patients is determined by several factors including age, the effect mesothelioma has on life expectancy, and how much care they need.

Asbestos sufferers must seek compensation from asbestos exposure responsible parties. If they are unable to locate the responsible parties, a federal program pays lump sums to mesothelioma patients. The average award is approximately PS144,000.

Former servicemen who were diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma were only able to claim a pension for war disability under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme 2008 It is a monthly payment based on an individual's age and the degree of their disability. This is a much smaller amount than the mesothelioma civil settlement, which can be in the six figures.

Fred Minall from Northampton who served in the Royal Navy as a naval engineering officer between 1957 and 1964 was informed that he is entitled to a lump sum payment of PS140,000, under the new law. He has mesothelioma - an incurable lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

According to mesothelioma lawyers Simpson Millar, this is a huge win for veterans with mesothelioma. Most Navy personnel, like many civilians, docked in US ports during their career, where they were exposed to harmful asbestos fibres. This is due to the extensive use of asbestos on American ships at this time. Symptoms of mesothelioma can take a long time to manifest and, as a result the patients are often left with only a few options for compensation.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that veterans with Mesothelioma who have not received a war-pension, will receive up to PS140,000 in a lump-sum payment. This is a significant increase from the amount that non-married mesothelioma veterans receive under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme.

However, this new payment will be deducted from any war pensions an individual receives. It is imperative that anyone suffering from mesothelioma who is thinking about applying for this benefit seeks advice from an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to ensure they are getting the best deal.

It's a win for Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion has issued an abrasive critique of the government for allegedly not keeping its pledge to legislate the military covenant. The charity has urged the responsible minister to explain why it is not delivering on its promise to veterans and has threatened to pull out of a number of forums in which it cooperates with the Ministry of Defence.

The Legion's involvement with the MoD is important, but it needs to be more productive to ensure that the community is being looked after in a way that makes a real difference to their lives. It is essential that the feedback loop within forums is improved so that any issues that are not being addressed are understood and the reasons for this are clearly explained.

As the country's oldest and largest Armed Forces charity, the Royal British Legion is at the core of the national network that provides assistance to members of the Armed Forces and their families. They are also the organization which is the best placed to understand the challenges faced by those who are serving and have served as well as their widows and widowers.

One of the major concerns of mesothelioma sufferers is that they're often left without financial security as a result of their illness. The compensation offered is usually not enough to cover the costs of living or medical expenses, and it's usually not feasible to obtain a mortgage.

Asbest was used in shipbuilding among other Naval activities. Many veterans are struggling to manage the symptoms of their illness and the impact on their financial health.

However, there are a number of organisations that can help in this. For example, mesothelioma lawyers can help to secure legal compensation for patients, which can be used to pay for treatment or cover essential living costs. In addition, mesothelioma victims may also file claims for compensation from the companies that provided asbestos-containing products.

It will be a welcome sight for veterans

Navy veterans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are eligible to avail a lump sum of PS140,000, the Ministry of Defence has announced. This will enable them to receive substantial financial support to ease the financial burden that mesothelioma causes their families.

Former service personnel who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma are sure to appreciate this news. The law has been modified so that they can be paid a similar amount to civilian sufferers who have mesothelioma compensation claims.

The change was made in response to an initiative by the Royal British Legion, and other groups. This led to the Prime Minster promising to examine the issue. The MoD's decision to change its policy will allow a lot of veterans who would have been eligible for a pension to receive a lump sum. This will give them peace of heart and the financial support they need to live out the rest of their lives.

Asbestos has been linked to mesothelioma. It can take decades for symptoms to appear, but even a single exposure could increase the likelihood of developing the disease. The vast majority mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos while working, including in Navy shipyards. In the past year the UK law was amended to permit employees who were exposed to asbestos at work to sue their employers. However, many veterans are unaware that they may be eligible for compensation from the government.

Mesothelioma is a debilitating illness that has had a devastating impact on many lives. The decision of the government regarding how much compensation for mesothelioma (Samkwang Eowork Co`s recent blog post) to address the unfair treatment of veterans is a major victory.

However, it's not enough to stop the suffering of veterans suffering from mesothelioma or their families. They also have to seek compensation from the companies that supplied the armed forces with asbestos-based products. Based on the shipyards, bases and the ships they were employed on, veterans may be able to claim trust fund compensation against a variety of corporations. This could include multinational corporations with a long track record of selling asbestos products to the US Navy or other branches of the military.