17:45 - 19:30, No.2 Conference Room
Workshop F
Victims and Support Organizations
Chairs: Kazunori Uekusa and Kyla Sentes
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John Flanagan
Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group (MAVS), Liverpool, the U.K.
ABSTRACT
Asbestos Victims Support Group's (AVSG) in the UK were formed by victims themselves and in some cases with help from Occupational Health organisations. We will often be the first people a victim has contact with after diagnosis other than their family.
The initial interview
We are a completely free and confidential service providing help and support in completing the complicated official forms to claim State Benefit. We interview the more serious cases of asbestos related disease (ARD) in their own homes together with a family member.
The State Benefit Scheme (Social Security) and government compensation scheme
We assist in applying for Industrial Injuries Benefit (120. 00 per week for mesothelioma victims), and the government compensation scheme (15,598 for a for a 56 year old dropping to 9,161 for a 75 year old with a sliding scales from aged 37 years of age to 77). The government scheme is for those unable to take their former employers to court for compensation.
Many groups also have specially qualified advisers for all the other State Benefits they may be able to claim. We will also assist in taking Personal Injury claims against their former employers by providing access to expert solicitors who specialise in ARD.
Personal help and support
AVSG provide help and support for those who just want to talk through a problem. We are often a shoulder to lean on when a family is devastated by the news of mesothelioma. We have direct contact with specialist nurses who can advise on medical problems.
We sit on a Parliamentary Committee to change the law to help victims. We have had some successes since its birth in 1999.
We campaign on national and local issues to help victims.