Reduced Earnings Allowance pays up to £93.56 a week if you cannot earn as much as you used to because of an accident or disease caused by your work. It is closed to new causes — but not to new claims. The accident must have happened, or the disease started, before 1 October 1990.
Quick facts
- Pays
- Up to £93.56 a week
- Only for
- Accidents or diseases before 1 October 1990
- Disability level
- Assessed at least 1%
- Also check
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Who can still claim
You could get Reduced Earnings Allowance if you have an illness or disability caused by a work-related accident or disease that happened before 1 October 1990, and all of the following apply:
- your level of disability is assessed to be at least 1%
- you cannot return to your regular occupation
- you cannot do other work with the same level of earnings as your regular occupation
How it interacts with other benefits
Reduced Earnings Allowance could affect any income-related benefits that you or your partner get, so it is worth checking the net effect before assuming it is all gain. You may also be able to get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit alongside it.
If you leave the UK to live abroad permanently, you may not be able to keep it.
Common questions
How much is Reduced Earnings Allowance?
Can I claim for a recent injury?
How disabled do I have to be?
Will it affect my other benefits?
Check the official sources
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Rules, rates and eligibility change and differ by country — always confirm the current details with the relevant official body before you act.
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