Introduction:
Occupational disease is closely related to the conditions of performing a specific job. However, this does not always result in inability to work, the necessity to discontinue occupational activity, and receipt of social insurance benefits. Due to inconsistencies in the social security system and lack of opportunities for vocational retraining, diagnosis of the disease results in applying for disability benefits.

Aim of the study:
The aim of this study was to demonstrate how, after the reform of the systerm of insurances in 1997, the change from making decisions from the purely biological aspect to a biological – occupational – economic approach, affected the number of decisions made concerning incapacity for work due to occupational diseases in 1999–2009 in Poland.

Material and Methods:
The method of comparative analysis was used of statistical data from the Department of Statistics at the Insurance Agency for the years 1999–2009. In addition, expertise was presented conducted by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz in the years 1999–2009, issued on appeal.

Results:
Analysis of the material shows that the change in the assessment of capacity for work that took place with the insurance system reform in 1997 resulted in a decline in the number of decisions made of incapacity for work due to occupational disease.

Conclusions:
Unification of the regulations of the insurance law, legal and occupational medicine reduced the number of patients who have not lost their ability to work in spite of an established occupational disease. – Existence of an occupational disease is not synonymous with the existence of incapacity for work. – Early detection of occupational disease, appropriate prevention, early discontinuation of exposure to the risk factor have a fundamental impact on workers’ health behavior, and thus in reducing the number of beneficiaries.