Infected blood interim compensation payment announcement update
Published on 02 December 2024
Applications for interim payments to estates opened on 24 October. These applications will be processed by the Infected Blood Support Schemes.
Guidance on how to apply, the eligibility criteria and the application process is available at www.gov.uk/infected-blood-compensation-estates
Published December 2024
IBSS-IBCA transition - update for IBSS websites
Deadline for new applications to Infected Blood Support Schemes.
The four UK-wide Infected Blood Support Schemes will close to new applications on 31 March 2025, as part of transitional arrangements with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).
This applies to new applications only. The schemes will remain open beyond this date for those already registered. Existing scheme members will continue to receive regular support payments and be able to contact the schemes as normal. You do not need to take any action.
Responsibility for support payments will transfer to IBCA in the future, on a date yet to be determined - we will update you once this has been confirmed.
We are working with IBCA, the UK Government and Devolved Administrations to make this transition as smooth as possible.
If you are not yet registered with a support scheme but believe you are eligible, act as soon as possible and before 31 March 2025.
If an existing scheme member dies between 1 January and 31 March 2025, their estate will have three months from date of death to apply for a lump sum payment.
Newly-bereaved partners of existing scheme members who die between 1 January and 31 March 2025 will also have three months from date of death to apply for support payments.
New applicants should apply to the scheme in the UK nation in which the person was infected. If you are a bereaved partner this is where your partner was infected.
More information on how to apply to Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) can be found here Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS)
Everyone registered with a support scheme will automatically be eligible for compensation via the infected blood compensation scheme, to be delivered by IBCA.
Published August 2024
On 16 August, the Government published updates to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. This follows an engagement exercise undertaken by Sir Robert Francis KC, Interim Chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority - the body that will be responsible for delivering the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme - with representatives of the infected blood community. Further information on the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme can be found here (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/infected-blood-compensation-scheme).
Further information on the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and Sir Robert Francis’ report can be found here (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/infected-blood-compensation-authority).
Published July 2024
The UK Government has announced that applications for Infected Blood Interim Estates Payments will open in October. The UK Government will set out information on the application process in advance of applications opening. If you are looking for information on the eligibility criteria for these payments, please visit gov.uk
Published April 2024
The UK Government is working towards introducing new law to establish the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. This will not have any immediate impact on your support payments. On the 17th April the UK Government tabled an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill that places a duty on the UK Government to establish a UK-wide Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and establishes a new arms-length body, named the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, to deliver it when the Bill becomes law. This is a significant step towards delivering compensation for victims of infected blood, with the intention of speeding up the implementation of the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry. Within that amendment, there are powers for the UK Government to transfer the Infected Blood Support Schemes across the UK into the Infected Blood Compensation Authority if they should so wish at a later date. This provides options to make best use of the vital knowledge, experience and expertise the existing support schemes have gained over the years in order to benefit beneficiaries. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, transfers can only be made with the consent of the relevant devolved authority. Please be assured details on future compensation and any changes to how your financial support is paid, will be clearly communicated to you in advance. We do not have further information at this time.
Published on November 2022
On 29 July 2022, Sir Brian Langstaff adopted an interim Infected Blood Inquiry report. This followed consideration of recommendations made by Sir Robert Francis KC on a potential compensation framework for infected blood victims.
In the report, he recommended that an interim payment of £100,000 should be paid to all existing members of UK infected blood support schemes, including the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS), as well as to any new members who join the scheme until such time as any final compensation scheme is put in place after the Infected Blood Inquiry reports in 2023.
As a result, on behalf of the UK Government, payments were made to all SIBSS beneficiaries at the end of October.
Further details on eligibility for the interim payment are set out in the UK Government scheme document available online at:
Infected Blood Interim Compensation Payment Scheme - GOV.UK