On the 16th of December, 2015, the Ministry of Defence changed their policy to allow service members diagnosed with mesothelioma to choose whether they want to receive a lump sum or a traditional war pension. The change was not applicable to all veterans who had been already diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Rhod Minall and Fred Palmer were also affected, due to exposure to asbestos in their military service or in civilian jobs. This was a huge 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 decades to develop. It can take decades before symptoms are evident and once diagnosed, many sufferers will live for a minimum of one or two years.
It is a significant move that the Government has decided to change the law. 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 significantly higher compensation than the average civil award.
Before the changes, veterans of the armed forces who were diagnosed with mesothelioma could only be eligible for the War Disablement Pension. It was a regular monthly income and was not appropriate for those suffering from serious long-term illnesses 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 backed by the Royal British Legion and Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum, the law has been amended to allow armed forces veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma access to a lump sum of up to PS140,000 in addition to the traditional War Pension. The lump sum is tax-free.
Prior to this, a mesothelioma diagnosis could have qualified a person to receive a war disability pension of up to PS32,000, regardless of whether they were divorced, single, or widowed. Civilians who have mesothelioma, on the other hand, can receive up PS600,000.000 under the government's Diffuse Mesothelioma program.
The new law will be applicable to all armed forces veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma and who wish to pursue this option. It is also accessible to those who were exposed to asbestos during their armed forces service and outside of it also, referred to as "dual exposure".
Mesothelioma UK has already started helping former sailors and other armed personnel of the military with mesothelioma lawsuits. We can help them learn about the new law and what's involved. We can also assist them to find out about the best way to obtain compensation. This can include tracing the companies that may be responsible for their exposure to asbestos.
The lump sum will be PS140,000.
The amount of compensation paid to sufferers is based on various factors, like age, the impact mesothelioma can have on the life expectancy and how much care is required. The amount of compensation given to sufferers is based on various factors, including age, the effect mesothelioma has on life expectancy, and the amount of care they require.
Asbestos victims have to seek compensation from the asbestos exposure responsible parties. For those who are unable to locate the responsible parties, a government program pays lump sums of money to mesothelioma sufferers. The average award is approximately PS144,000.
In the past, ex-servicemen who were diagnosed with mesothelioma would only be eligible for a war-related disability pension under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme 2008. This is a monthly payment determined by the individual's age and level of disability. However, it is considerably less than mesothelioma compensation for civilians that can exceed six figures.
Fred Minall from Northampton who served in the Royal Navy as a naval engineering between 1957 and 1964 has been informed that he has the right to a lump-sum payment of PS140,000, as per the new law. mesothelioma compensation scheme is an incurable lung disease caused by asbestos exposure.
According to mesothelioma lawyers Simpson Millar, this is a huge victory for mesothelioma patients who have suffered from the disease. Most Navy personnel, like many civilians, were docked in US ports throughout their careers which exposed them to harmful asbestos fibres. This is because of the frequent use of asbestos on American ships during this period. The symptoms of mesothelioma may take years to manifest, and as a result the patients are often left with only a few options for compensation.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that mesothelioma patients who were not previously awarded an entitlement to a war pension will now be offered a lump sum of up to PS140,000. This is a substantial increase over the amount that non-married veterans with mesothelioma receive under the Diffuse Mesothelioma scheme.
However this new payment will be taken from any existing war pensions an individual receives. This means it is important that anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma and contemplating applying for this payment seeks the advice of experienced mesothelioma solicitors to ensure they receive the best deal.
It's a win for Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion has delivered a stinging rebuke to the government over claims that it has not acted on its pledge to make the military covenant a permanent part of in law. The charity has asked the minister to explain why the government isn't honoring its pledge to veterans. It has also threatened to withdraw from several forums where it has been working with the Ministry of Defence.
The Legion's involvement with the MoD is important but it has to be more productive in order to ensure that the community is being treated in a way that is a real improvement to their lives. It is therefore vital that the feedback loop in forums is improved so that all issues that are not being addressed are recognized and the reasons behind this are explained.
The Royal British Legion, as the UK's biggest and oldest Armed Forces Charity, is situated at the heart of a larger network that provides support for members of the Armed Forces. They are also the organization that is the most suited to comprehend the challenges that those who serve, have served and their widows and widowers.
Patients with mesothelioma are often left without financial security is among their biggest concerns. The compensation available is not always enough to cover the living expenses or medical costs and mortgages are usually difficult to obtain.
Asbest was used in shipbuilding among other Naval activities. This has left many veterans struggling to cope with the symptoms of their disease and the impact it has on their financial health.
There are numerous organizations which can help. Mesothelioma lawyers can assist in obtaining legal compensation that can be used to pay for treatment and living expenses. Patients with mesothelioma can also claim compensation from the companies who supplied asbestos-containing products.
It will be a welcome sight for veterans
Navy veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma will be able to access an amount of PS140,000 in one lump sum according to the Ministry of Defence has announced. The Ministry of Defence has announced that Navy veterans with mesothelioma will be able to access the lump sum of PS140,000.
This news will be welcomed by the thousands of former military personnel who were diagnosed with mesothelioma. The law has been changed to allow them to receive the same compensation amount as civilians with mesothelioma lawsuits.
The change was made in response to a campaign by the Royal British Legion, and other groups. This resulted in the Prime Minister promising to examine the issue. The U-turn by the MoD will help many veterans who are dying, and could have been eligible for a war pension to pick a lump amount. This will provide them with the peace of mind they need and the financial support they need to live out the rest of their life.
Asbestos exposure can be linked to mesothelioma. It can take a long time for symptoms to appear however just one exposure can increase the chance of developing the condition. The majority of mesothelioma sufferers were exposed to asbestos at work, including at Navy shipyards. The UK law changed last year to allow people to claim compensation from employers if they were exposed to asbestos while working However, many veterans aren't aware that they are able to seek compensation from the government.
Mesothelioma is a terrible cancer and there aren't words to describe the way it has affected many lives. The government's decision to address the discrimination against military veterans is a major victory.
But it's not enough to stop the suffering of mesothelioma patients and their families. They'll also have to seek compensation from the companies that supplied the armed forces with asbestos products. Depending on the shipyards and bases, and ships they worked on, veterans may be eligible to make trust fund claims against several different corporations. This can include a variety of multinationals with a history of selling asbestos-related products to the US Navy and other branches of the military.
