SIPTU operates a Legal Benefit Scheme for supporting members who suffered an injury/accident at work and believe their employer or another third party is at fault for the accident/injury/or occupational disease.

No member shall be entitled to Legal Benefit unless they have been a benefit member for a period of at least thirteen weeks prior to the time of the accident/ injury/ or occupational disease.

The decision to grant or refuse Legal Benefit on application from a member will be at the absolute discretion of the National Executive Council of SIPTU whose decision will be final.

If the National Executive Council makes a decision to grant Legal Benefit the member must ensure that they remain a benefit member of SIPTU for the duration of the legal action.

Applications forms for Members Legal Benefit Scheme for Work Related Accidents are available from your Divisional Organiser’s office or any SIPTU office.

Statute of Limitations

The Statute of Limitations Act 1957 as amended imposes a limit of two years for lodging a valid claim in the Personal Injuries Assessment Board for a personal injury caused by negligence, nuisance or breach of duty and this time limit usually starts running from the time of the accident (or the date of knowledge of the person concerned in certain limited cases).

Note with regard to Statute of Limitations

In the case of an occupational disease the two years starts running from the date the person knew or ought to have known that they had an occupational disease and that they had contacted it from work.