By Jo Jeffries. last Updated 22nd November 2022. Welcome to this guide, which answers the question, ‘Can I claim compensation from the DWP?‘ In this accident at work compensation guide, we will be looking at how you could make an accident at work claim if you have suffered an accident which has led to an injury or illness while working for the Department for Work and Pensions if it was due to the negligence of your employer or other members of staff. We will also look at different types of illnesses that could be caused due to stress at work or bullying. Plus, we will look at work pension compensation for serious injuries, as well as how DWP compensation could help with recovery from an injury. Furthermore, we will give some accidents at work compensation examples, to show how much a succesful claimany could receive.
The Department of Work and Pension – Who works there?
Work and pensions employee accident at work
In the most part, people working for the Department for Work and Pensions (commonly abbreviated to the DWP and an abbreviation we will use in this article) will do so in office based environments. These could be working for the department at its main office in Westminster or at other locations across the UK. The department operates a network of 1,000 benefit processing or call centres as well as Job Centres across the country.
These locations may only be accessible to employees, or there may be locations where staff are expected to interact with the public. As such, we have also included a section on how you could be eligible for compensation if injured whilst visiting a Jobcentre as a member of the public.
Can I claim compensation from the DWP?
The Department for Work and Pensions is the government department responsible for the administration of welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. In the context of this guide, we will discuss possible work related accidents leading to injuries and also illness that could be caused when working in an office environment and public-facing services.
We will also show you how our panel of personal injury solicitors could help you to make a personal injury claim.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Workplace Accident Claims Against The Department for Work and Pensions
- What Is A Workplace Accident Personal Injury Claim
- Am I Entitled To Benefits Through The CSPIBS Civil Service Pensions Injury Benefits Scheme?
- I Suffered A Workplace Accident Working At The Jobcentre Plus Can I Claim
- Could I Claim Compensation If I Had An Accident When Visiting The Jobcentre?
- 5 Examples Of Office Accidents Which You Could Be Injured In
- Hazards And Health And Safety For Offices
- What Are My Rights After An Accident At Work?
- Steps To Take If You Have A Department for Work and Pensions Workplace Accident
- Accident At Work Compensation
- Examples Of What You Could Claim For After An Accident At Work
- No Win No Fee Claims For DWP Workplace Accidents
- Contact An Accident At Work Specialist Today
- Resources And Help For Civil Servants Injured At Work
A Guide To Workplace Accident Claims Against The Department for Work and Pensions
To begin with, we shall look at what the Department of Work and Pensions does and what its role is. The DWP is the largest of the UK’s public service departments. It administers an annual budget of £176.3 billion and has a staff of 84,718 as of the time of writing. The departments’ responsibilities include the administration of the state pension, pension credits, child maintenance policy and welfare such as that for job seekers. It also administers benefits for those with ill health or who are eligible for in or out of work benefits to 20 million people across the UK. The DWP is also supported by an additional 15 public bodies and agencies.
If you have suffered an accident leading to an injury or illness at work whilst working for this department and you feel your employer or another member of staff caused your accident due to negligence or a breach in the duty of care you are owed call Accident Claims UK to see if you could make an accident at work claim.
What Is A Workplace Accident Personal Injury Claim
An accident at work personal injury claim could be if you have suffered an injury or illness (physical or psychological) at work due to the negligence of your employer or another member of staff. In order to be able to pursue an accident at work compensation claim it must be proven that the duty of care in which you are owed as an employee has been breached, leading directly to possibly an accident which resulted in an injury or illness. Also employees could also claim for stress at work or bullying at work where it can be proven that your employer is liable for what has happened. To make sure that you are eligible to claim compensation, talk to a solicitor experienced in accident at work law.
Am I Entitled To Benefits Through The CSPIBS Civil Service Pensions Injury Benefits Scheme?
If you work directly for a government department and are working in their main facilities it is likely that you will be employed as a member of the UK’s Civil Service. Not everyone who works for the government or government bodies and agencies is counted as a civil servant. However, working directly at a department is likely to mean you are a civil servant. As such, if you have had an accident at work, there could be additional forms of benefits or financial assistance which you could claim, such as through the Civil Service Pensions Injury Benefits Scheme.
This scheme provide members who are injured in the workplace during the course of their duties with benefits. People are entitled to claim benefits without the need to establish any fault. Therefore, even in cases where you may not be able to make a personal injury claim, you could still be able to claim benefits through the CSIBS. However, we should also note that if you claim benefits under this scheme and subsequently make a successful personal injury claim against the DWP, any benefits you have already received will need to be repaid.
Whilst you do not need to show fault, there is a criteria which you need to meet before being awarded benefits. Your injury must qualify and your income or ability to work and earn money must have been impacted. To find out more and if you are entitled to benefits, click the link above.
I Suffered A Workplace Accident Working At The Jobcentre Plus Can I Claim
Across the country there are many job centres (though the total number of branches in the network has decreased in recent years) employing hundreds of people. The job centre is a customer facing environment where members of staff will directly meet with and provide assistance to jobseekers, helping them with a number of tasks. Employees may have to provide a variety of services in several roles. Typically, this is a ‘office style’ environment where members of the public meet with an advisor at a desk. As such, employees could be injured in similar ways to other office workers, such as when slipping or falling over due to hazards, through manual handling accidents, or repetitive strain injuries, work-related stresses or even electric shock injuries.
If you have been injured or made ill through negligence or a breach in duty of care working at a Jobcentre talk to an accident at work solicitor today.
Could I Claim Compensation If I Had An Accident When Visiting The Jobcentre?
Jobcentres are not just workplaces, they are also places where members of the public need to attend a variety of appointments at different stages of the benefits claim process. The public could be injured in various ways including; slips and falls possibly due to wet or damaged flooring, lacerations if office furniture is not maintained or replaced when damaged, injuries if chairs are damaged and they collapse.
Of course, these could not be considered as an accident at work claim but if you were injured whilst visiting a Jobcentre and if your injury was caused by negligence or due to an avoidable accident you may be eligible to make a claim.
5 Examples Of Office Accidents Which You Could Be Injured In
Here are some examples of how an employee working in an office environment may be injured;
Falling or slipping accidents
These are the most common form of accidents in office workplaces and according to the HSE account for just over a third of accidents in the workplace. Office workers are 2.5 times more likely to be injured falling over in offices than other workplaces.
Manual handling and lifting injuries
Whilst office based roles do not commonly involve lifting and carrying heavy items, people could still suffer neck or back injuries lifting lighter items (such as boxes of documents) if they do so incorrectly. Employees should be instructed on how to lift and carry in a safe way through manual handling training.
Injuries caused by your workstation
Your workstation or desk could also be a cause of injuries. Having the wrong desk, computer screen protector, or chair setup could lead to health issues. You could suffer from conditions such as muscular strains, postural problems, carpal tunnel syndrome or eye problems.
Hazards And Health And Safety For Offices
Examples of health and safety hazards may include the following;
- Accidents caused by inadequate and/ or poor lighting, especially in areas such as a stairway.
- Trip and fall hazards on the floor, e.g wet floors with no sign, upturned rugs and carpets.
- Lifting and carrying without manual handling training.
- Electrocution hazards if maintenance is not carried out regularly.
- Illnesses spread by others.
- Exposure to cleaning products and other types of chemical hazard if not tidied away by cleaning staff.
- Stressful situations.
- Ergonomic problems, such as chairs and desks at the wrong height.
If you have been injured through any of these, or indeed any other hazard, find out if you are still within the accident at work claim time limit by contacting a personal injury solicitor through Accident Claims UK today.
What Are My Rights After An Accident At Work?
If you have had an accident in the workplace, you could contact an accident at work solicitor to help you to find out more about your different rights as well as where and how you can make a compensation claim as specific rights may cover your incident.
Some of the most basic rights that you have, include; If you have been wrongfully injured in the workplace you have the right to seek damages for that injury. If a breach in the duty of care has caused an accident leading to an injury or has caused you to be ill you have the right to seek legal advice on this matter.
You have the right to be properly compensated for both your injuries and any other costs or damages which are associated with your injury and accident if your case is successful. This could include the costs of medical treatment.
Steps To Take If You Have A Department for Work and Pensions Workplace Accident
Before you contact a solicitor to make a Department for Work and Pensions accident at work claim, there are some steps which you could take. The first thing which you should do is to ensure that you get any and all medical treatment that your injuries or illness require. Ask the physician who treats you for a copy of your medical report. At the same time, you should also report your workplace accident to the DWP. Make sure that the person responsible correctly records your accident and injuries.
If possible, try to take pictures of both your injury and the cause of your accident. For example, if you tripped over, take a photo of the hazard which caused your trip. If you need to pay any out of pocket expenses as a result of your accident keep your receipts or invoices. Your personal injury claim could compensate you for these costs.
Finally, you could reach out and find a solicitor or personal injury lawyer to guide you through the accident at work procedure and help you make a claim.
Accident At Work Compensation
If you successfully claim accident at work compensation, the payout you could receive could include both general damages and special damages if appropriate.
Special damages compensate successful claimants for the financial impact of their injury. General damages, however, compensate successful claimants for the pain and suffering caused by their injuries. They also compensate for the impact the injury has had on their enjoyment of life.
Accidents At Work – Compensation Examples
Calculating accident at work compensation payouts can involve considering several factors. For example, the following may be taken into consideration when valuing your injuries:
- The severity of the injury
- Whether you need future treatment
- The psychological impact of the injury
- How it impacts your day-to-day life
Legal professionals can also use the Judicial College Guidelines to help them value the general damages portion of your claim.
We have taken some figures from this publication and used them in the table below. However, these are only to be used as a guide. If you would like more personalised guidance, we could give this to you over the phone.
| Injury/Illness | Damage Amounts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate Severe Psychological Injury (b) | £19,070 to £54,830 | Significant problems with a person’s ability to cope with life, education and work, possible future vulnerability. Cases of work-related stress resulting in a permanent or long-standing disability unable to return to employment. |
| Less Severe Psychological Injuries (c) | £1,540 to £5,860 | The length of the disability is key within these brackets. Also to what extent can daily life be continued as normal. |
| Moderate Severe PTSD (b) | £23,150 to £59,860 | The symptoms for post traumatic stress disorder may include nightmares, flashbacks, sleep disturbance, avoidance, mood disorders, suicidal ideation and hyper-arousal. The brackets include significant disability for the foreseeable future but the prospect of making a full recovery. |
| Moderate PTSD (c) | £8,180 to £23,150 | An almost full recovery expected with no grossly disabling affects. |
| Minor Eye Injuries (h) | £3,950 to £8,730 | Cases of being struck in the eye, exposed to fumes or being splashed with liquids causing pain and interfering with vision. |
| Minor Head and Brain Injury (e) | £2,210 to £12,770 | Brain damage if any is limited. The brackets are concerned with the severity of the injury, recovery time, any continuing symptoms, any headaches. |
| Moderate Back Injury (ii) | £12,510 to £27,760 | Soft tissue damage, disc lesions resulting in cervical spondylosis, serious restriction of movement, permanent recurring pain, possible further surgery, fractures, dislocation, immediate pain and serious soft tissue damage to the back and neck. |
| Severe Shoulder Injury (a) | £19,200 to £48,030 | Dislocation of shoulder and damage to the brachial plexus which results in pain in shoulder and neck, aching in elbow, sensory symptoms in the forearm and hand. |
| Less Serious Leg Injury (i) | £17,960 to £27,760 | Fractures with incomplete recoveries and soft tissue injuries. |
| Modest Foot Injury (g) | Up to £13,740 | Simple metatarsal fractures, ruptured ligaments, puncture wounds. |
Examples Of What You Could Claim For After An Accident At Work
In addition to the general damages which we have looked at above, you could also be able to claim for what are called special damages. These may include damages for things such as the costs of any medical care and treatment you need, as well as care in the home. You could also be able to claim for expenses associated with travelling to or from a medical appointment. You could also be able to claim for things such as income and earnings which you have lost due to your accident or injuries.
For further advice on what you could be able to claim, speak to an expert solicitor.
No Win No Fee Claims For DWP Workplace Accidents
No win no fee agreements are a very common way for personal injury claims to be funded. They set out the terms and conditions under which the solicitor will provide services, they include how fees and payments work. It will say how the solicitor is paid if the claim is won, and what happens if they do not. If you make a claim through our team there will be no upfront payments and you will not be left out of pocket at any point. If we do not win your case for you, you will not have to pay our fee.
Can I claim compensation from the DWP if they are found to be at fault for an accident I’m injured in?
If you can successfully evidence that the DWP has breached their duty of care towards you as an employee, and you were injured as a result, you could claim compensation for your pain and suffering caused by your injuries. You could also claim for out of pocket expenses incurred due to your injuries. These could include loss of earnings, medical, travel and care costs, for example. However, you would need to provide evidence, such as receipts and payslips.
What could work pension compensation include?
If you have lost out on pension contributions due to an accident at work that was not your fault, you could claim them back under special damages.
If you could evidence your injuries were caused by an employer’s breach of duty of care to you, special damages could include work pension compensation as well as loss of income. You would need to be able to evidence that the loss of pension contributions was a direct result of your injuries.
How could DWP compensation aid recovery?
If you can successfully prove a claim, DWP compensation could aid recovery by taking the financial pressure off you while you recover from your injuries. A compensation settlement could also include special damages which compensate for the financial losses incurred as a result of your injuries, such as medical expenses.
If you would like to speak to us about compensation and how it could aid recovery, please don’t hesitate to call our team.
Contact An Accident At Work Specialist Today
To contact our expert team, you can call us via 0800 073 8801. You can also use the contact form on this page to request a call back from our team today.
We are ready to take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Resources And Help For Civil Servants Injured At Work
In addition to the information above, you can also find relevant information for people looking to make an at work claim at these resources.
Health And Safety At Work
This guide produced by the government looks at and provides advice on health and safety in the workplace.
Health And Safety Guidelines For Offices
This is the main resource from the health and safety executive for staying safe in an office environment.
Your Rights After A Workplace Accident
This is our guide looking at what rights you have if you have been injured in a workplace accident.
The department for work pensions
If you have worked at the Department for Work and Pensions and an accident at work has occurred, we hope this guide has been useful.