The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) has issued a nationwide call to encourage all those eligible to apply to one of the four existing Infected Blood Support Schemes before 31st March 2025, if they aren’t already registered.
Applying to an Infected Blood Support Scheme as soon as possible will allow those affected to receive regular support payments. If successful, they will automatically be eligible for compensation through the infected blood compensation scheme.
The four schemes in operation across the UK are: English Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS), Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS), Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme (WIBSS), and Infected Blood Payment Scheme Northern Ireland (IBPS NI).
Minister for the cabinet office, Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “This government has made sure support scheme payments will continue for life after listening to the concerns of the infected blood community.
“I urge those eligible to register with an Infected Blood Support Scheme as soon as possible to start receiving regular support payments.
“This government is doing everything possible to deliver compensation quickly to people infected and affected by this scandal.”
Included in the Autumn budget is £11.8 billion in funding for compensating victims of infected blood, facilitating the call for registrations to access this. IBCA has been working with the Infected Blood Support Schemes, UK government, and the Devolved Administrations to ensure the future transition of compensations from the schemes to IBCA is as seamless as possible.
Applications are to close on 31st March 2024, though the schemes themselves aren’t closing, so all support payments are to continue.
Those eligible to sign-up to a support scheme include those who have been historically infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV from NHS blood or blood productions, and spouses, civil, or long-term cohabiting partners of those infected who had previously been a member of a current or former scheme.
IBCA CEO David Foley said: “We know those impacted by the infected blood scandal have waited too long for compensation, and our aim is to provide payments as soon as possible.
“People already registered with a support scheme will automatically be eligible for compensation, and support payments received before 31st March 2025 will not be taken into account when we calculate their final compensation packages.”
Successful applicants will be able to receive regular support payments after March 2025, and anyone eligible for compensation but not yet registered with a support scheme will be able to submit a claim to IBCA for compensation once applications are fully open.
IBCA is currently building a compensation claims service with regular input from those in the infected blood community.
