Miners’ knee sufferers ‘deserve’ compensation claims
MINERS who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee – more commonly known as miner’s knee – must act now over compensation claims they are entitled to, a Welsh MP has claimed.
Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said recent legislation that signalled the government’s recognition of Miner’s Knee as an industrial disease, had allowed the going-ahead of compensation claims in the form of the new Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
But she warned ex-pit workers against signing up with law firms that take part of the payments, arguing that miners can apply directly for the compensation, without the help of solicitors.
“I want to see every penny of any payment going into the pockets only of those who deserve it – miners – and not the pockets of greedy law firms,” said Ms Griffiths. “Some made millions of pounds out of processing claims in the past – providing a quite unnecessary service.
“What I would tell former miners is that claims should be made direct to the government’s Department for Work and Pensions at their Castleford IIDB Centre in Leeds.”
Ministers agreed with recommendations from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council that coal miners who have worked underground for over 10 years should be entitled to compensation claims in the form of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. The scheme is expected to be up and running at the end of June.