Miners lose as they win

IRWIN Mitchell's record victory on behalf of Welsh ex-miners suffering work-related illnesses may be partially frustrated by DSS laws. The Government is awarding u500m to 40,000 ex-miners suffering from vibration white finger and is expected to award about u1.5bn to ex-miners suffering chest diseases.

However, Manchester accountant Frenkel Topping says many of the miners who are now surviving on means-tested state benefits will lose out if their compensation boosts their savings above the DSS threshold of u8,000.

Senior partner John Frenkel says: "If they resign themselves to losing their benefits, their personal injury award will simply run out faster."



The Western Mail