What conditions can I claim for?
DECC continues to receive new compensation claims under common law from former British Coal (BC) employees for Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and some Asbestos related conditions. Those suffering from Pneumoconiosis may be entitled to make a claim direct under the Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis Scheme (CWPS).
DECC has recently completed delivery of two major Schemes of compensation for nearly 800,000 former BC employees related to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Vibration White Finger (VWF). Both of those Schemes are now closed to new claims but claims can be pursued on a common law basis.
How do I make a claim?
Subject to your employment status with BC and the individual facts of your case you may be able to make a claim for compensation for some health related conditions caused by your employment. You should seek professional legal advice from a solicitor on whether you have grounds to pursue a claim and the issues you need to consider. Common law rules in relation to costs will apply meaning should your claim be unsuccessful you are at risk for costs incurred defending the claim. Once an offer has been accepted in full and final settlement no further claims can be made.
Claims for Pneumoconiosis under the CWPS can be made direct to the Department’s claims handlers (see below for details).
Where do I send my claim?
Claims for health related compensation should be sent to the Department’s claims handlers at Nabarro Claims Solutions Coal health Claims PO Box 68585 London EC4P 4DE.
Contact Details
- If you have any queries regarding your own existing claim against BC you should speak to your solicitor, legal representative or trade union.
- If you are unhappy with the way your solicitor has handled your claim, you should contact the Legal Ombudsman on 0300 555 0333 or write to them at Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ
- If you have a complaint regarding a claims handler, you will need to contact the Claims Management Regulation Monitoring and Compliance Unit at the Ministry of Justice. You can write to them at 57 - 60 High Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 1JS or phone them on 0845 450 6858 or 01283 233309.
- If you are a solicitor or legal representative wishing to make a claim against British Coal you should write to Nabarro Claims Solutions, Coal Health Claims, PO Box 68585, London EC4P 4DE. Nabarro Claims Solutions are DECC’s representatives in these matters.
- You can also contact the Coal Health Claims Unit by email at CHCU@decc.gsi.gov.uk, by phone on 0300 068 5777 or by writing to us at Coal Health Claims Unit, 3rd Floor/Area A, 3 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2AW. Our official response time is 15 working days but we try to reply sooner if we can. Please supply us with the full name of the miner, his date of birth and National Insurance number (if known). Please state if you are the person who has registered the claim.
- NB: Some overseas callers have experienced problems connecting to our new 0300 numbers and should use this number +44 (20) 7979 7777.
- For press enquiries only, you can contact the DECC Press Office via the switchboard on 0300 060 4000.