Compensation Payments and Claims Process
The IBCA has made the first compensation offers to 10 individuals, totaling over £13 million. Additional claims are being processed, with 25 more people invited to claim in December and plans to include around 250 people by the end of March.
The authority is learning from these initial claims, identifying areas to improve the process, such as the need for more or different information to finalize claims and the utility of offering legal and financial advice to claimants.
Compensation Calculator and User Feedback
In response to community feedback, the IBCA is developing a compensation calculator to help individuals understand their eligibility.
This tool is expected to be available by early March and will initially be designed for those infected or claiming for an estate, with further development planned after the second set of regulations is laid in Parliament.
Broader Economic and Social Impact
The transition from existing support schemes to the IBCA compensation scheme is part of a broader effort to address the financial and health impacts on those affected by infected blood.
This includes recognizing the health impacts of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C infections and providing supplementary compensation routes where necessary.
Statistics and Timelines
- 10 individuals have received compensation offers totaling over £13 million.
- 25 additional people were invited to claim in December.
- Around 250 people are expected to be included in the claims process by the end of March.
Leadership and Community Engagement
The involvement of user consultants from the infected blood community is crucial in ensuring our processes are focused on the needs of those applying for compensation.
Sir Robert Francis KC, Interim Chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
The appointment of user consultants highlights the IBCA’s commitment to community engagement and ensuring that the compensation service is user-centered.
Progress and Targets
- The IBCA has already made significant progress in processing initial claims.
- The compensation calculator will be available by early March.
- The second set of compensation scheme regulations will be laid in Parliament by the end of March.
Local and Regional Impact
The closure of new applications to the four UK-wide Infected Blood Support Schemes on 31 March 2025 is part of the transitional arrangements with the IBCA.
Existing scheme members will continue to receive support payments, and newly-bereaved partners or estates will have three months to apply for support payments or lump sum payments following the death of a scheme member.
Immediate Implications
The immediate implications include the need for eligible individuals to apply to the support schemes before the 31 March 2025 deadline and the ongoing support for existing scheme members as they transition to the IBCA compensation scheme.
Broader Significance
This update marks a significant step towards providing comprehensive compensation and support to those affected by infected blood, aligning with the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry and reflecting a commitment to addressing the long-standing issues faced by this community.
