July 7, 2009
MP HOSTS ROADSHOW FOR MINER’S KNEE SUFFERERS
EX-MINERS with a painful knee condition can get advice on making claims for help at a roadshow hosted by MP John Healey.
It follows a recent announcement by the government that some miner’s knee sufferers will be able to receive industrial injuries disablement benefit (IIDB).
Mr Healey has organised the roadshow, which will be attended by advisers from Rotherham Occupational Health Advice Service (ROHAS) and Jobcentre Plus’s specialist industrial injuries centre in Castleford.
It is being held at Cortonwood Miner’s Welfare, Knollbeck Lane, Brampton on Friday July 17, 2-4pm.
Mr Healey will open and introduce the roadshow, then there will be a presentation by ROHAS workplace health advisors on how to make claims and the opportunity to ask questions. Application forms will also be available.
The Wentworth MP has arranged the roadshow as part of his drive to ensure ex-miners know that they can claim for IIDB for free – they don’t have to pay costly legal fees.
He has already informed the justice minister of questionable activity in Rotherham and Barnsley by some law firms, who are charging £350 just for help with filling in a form.
He said: “Anyone in the area who suffers from miner’s knee can come along and get free advice on how to make a claim for this extra help and I would encourage them to do so – there is no need to pay hundreds of pounds for a lawyer.
“We don’t want a re-run of the compensation schemes for vibration white finger and COPD, where money wrongly went to solicitors in fees instead of going to miners in compensation they were entitled to.”
Mr Healey has pulled together a fact sheet explaining how to make a claim and hundreds of people have asked for a copy. Many have contacted him from Rotherham and Barnsley but some have been from further afield in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and even Hampshire.
If you want a copy of the fact sheet, contact Mr Healey’s office on 01709 875943.