Warnings over possible delays in settling some personal injury claims due to new law

People due to receive a compensation payment for personal injury could face a delay in receiving the money due to a law coming into force today.

Under an existing system, anyone receiving compensation for a personal injury matter faced having the amount of any illness-related social welfare payments deducted from the compensation amount.

However, legislation now in place ensures the amount of payments due will have to be repaid to the Department of Social Protection by the compensator — typically a defendant’s insurance company.