Government opens applications for 拢100,000 interim payment to the estates of victims of Infected Blood Scandal
Estates of people who died as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal can now apply to receive an interim payment of 拢100,000, in advance of a comprehensive compensation scheme.
The estates of people who died as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal can now apply to receive an interim payment of 拢100,000 from today. This is the first time this group has ever received compensation.听
Personal representatives of a deceased person鈥檚 estate, including partners, parents, siblings and children, are urged to apply by聽completing a form on gov.uk.听
Applications will be processed by the Infected Blood Support Schemes, which will administer the payments.
This interim payment comes in advance of a comprehensive, government-funded compensation scheme for infected and affected victims of infected blood.
The compensation scheme is聽UK-wide and will be delivered by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), an independent arm鈥檚 length body led by Sir Robert Francis KC. The scheme was established in law in August and聽expects聽to make聽payments by the end of this year.
Today鈥檚 announcement marks the first time that this group of the infected blood community has ever received compensation.
It also fulfils the commitment placed on government by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 and helps deliver on Recommendation 12 of the Infected Blood Inquiry鈥檚 Second Interim Report, which recommended that 鈥渁n interim payment of 拢100,000 should be paid to recognise the deaths of people who, to date, hadn鈥檛 been recognised.鈥澛�
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, said:
鈥淚 hope that today is seen as another important milestone for victims and campaigners who have waited far too long for justice.
鈥淲e are committed to acting on the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry and these payments聽are an important step forward in providing substantial compensation to the families of victims of infected blood.
鈥淣o amount of compensation can fully address the suffering as a result of this scandal, but we are doing everything possible to deliver life-changing sums to people infected and affected.鈥�