I’m not sure who employed me – can I still claim for my asbestos disease?

Posted: 26th Sep 25 11:30 AM

Written by Jan Garvey (Senior Case Manager at National Asbestos Helpline)

Last Updated: 26/09/25

If you were exposed to asbestos decades ago, are you wondering if you will be expected to remember all the details of your work history?

You’re not alone – this is one of the most common questions we receive at National Asbestos Helpline.

You may be able to claim for your asbestos-related disease even if you are not sure who employed you.

It’s possible to make a claim for an asbestos-related disease even if:

You worked for several employers
You can’t remember the exact company names
The company has closed/ceased trading

You don’t need to have all the details. We can help find the company or its insurers. You can make an asbestos claim even when the employer no longer exists.

How can I find out who I worked for?

There are several ways to trace your work history:

Check old payslips or tax records (such as P60s).
Ask family members or former colleagues if they remember where you worked
Contact HMRC for a list of the employers who paid your National Insurance
Check any trade union records
Dig out your apprenticeship deeds/ indentures, training certificates or letters from work
Look for old photos of you taken at work – maybe you were in the work football team?
Check your private pension records

Our specialist team will help you and do the research for you, so you don’t have to worry. We can also put call-outs on our website and our social media channels, asking the public for more information.

What if the company has closed?

If the company has closed, you may still be able to make a claim. Most asbestos claims are made against the employer’s liability insurer at the time you were exposed to asbestos. The company’s insurer may still be responsible, even if the company shut down many years ago.

Sometimes another company or the Government might have taken on the responsibility for your employment.

Our team will submit searches to find the insurance policy and investigate who would be the right person or group from whom to claim the compensation. This is a routine part of most asbestos claims.

Do I need exact dates and locations?

No, you don’t need to provide the exact dates and locations, although as much information as you can give will help.

Try to provide as much information as you can about your work process that involved asbestos, even if you can only give rough time frames or job role details.

We’ll build a picture of your exposure by:

Looking at the type of work you did
Checking where you worked
Speaking to former colleagues
Reviewing known asbestos risks in your trade or industry

Can I get help?

Yes – you don’t need to work through this alone. Our specialist asbestos solicitors can:

Investigate your work history
Find your former employer or their insurers
Help you apply for government benefits such as Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) and a one-off lump sum

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and are not sure who employed you, please get in touch with our team.