Infected Blood Compensation Scheme
On Friday 16th August, the UK Government published Sir Robert Francis’ report on compensation for those affected and infected by the Infected Blood scandal. Alongside this, the Government has also published an update on the compensation scheme and the report by the Expert Group which advised the Government. Further information can be found on the .gov website at: Infected Blood Compensation Scheme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Eligibility
You may be entitled to receive financial support if you were infected with, or otherwise affected by, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prior to 17th February 1992 and/or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) prior to 1st September 1991, as a result of treatment with NHS blood or blood products. The treatment leading to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and/or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) must have been received in Northern Ireland, even if the individual eligible now lives in another country. Bereaved spouses, civil partners and long term partners of those infected with HIV or Hepatitis C as a result of treatment with NHS blood or blood products, who themselves were not infected, may also be eligible for support if they were co-habiting at the time of death.
Support Available
The Scheme offers various types of financial support, including:
- monthly or quarterly support payments for infected beneficiaries;
- monthly or quarterly support payments for non-infected bereaved spouses, civil partners and long term partners;
- one off ex gratia payments in relation to HIV, chronic and advanced Hepatitis C;
- one off ex gratia bereavement payment in relation to spouses, civil partners and long term partners of deceased beneficiaries;
- annual winter fuel payment;
- discretionary one off grant support;
Newsletter
Infected Blood Inquiry Scheme Newsletter – March 2023
Infected Blood Inquiry Scheme Newsletter – January 2024
Infected Blood Inquiry Scheme Newsletter – March 2024
Infected Blood Inquiry Scheme Newsletter – June 2024
Current Payment Rates >
Support Payment Rates for infected beneficiaries
| Payment Category | 2024/2025 |
| Hepatitis C Stage 1 | £22,905 |
| Hepatitis C Stage 1 Enhanced | £34,736 |
| Hepatitis C Stage 2 | £34,736 |
| Mono HIV | £34,736 |
| Co-Infected HIV & Hepatitis C Stage 1 | £47,150 |
| Co-Infected HIV & Hepatitis C Stage 1 Enhanced | £54,590 |
| Co-Infected HIV & Hepatitis C Stage 2 | £54,590 |
| Winter Fuel Payment | £659 |
Support Payment Rates for bereaved spouse/partners
Bereaved beneficiaries will receive 100% of their deceased spouse/partner’s rate in the first year and then 75% of that rate from the second year onwards.
| Payment Category | 2024/2025 |
| Hepatitis C Stage 1 | £17,179 |
| Hepatitis C Stage 2 | £26,052 |
| Mono HIV | £26,052 |
| Co-Infected HIV & Hepatitis C Stage 1 | £35,363 |
| Co-Infected HIV & Hepatitis C Stage 2 | £40,943 |
| Winter Fuel Payment | N/A |
*Bereaved beneficiaries will receive 100% of their late spouse/partner’s rate in the first year and then 75% of that rate from the second year onwards.
One Off Lump Sum Payment Rates 2024-2025 (Rates below are unchanged)
| Payment Category | Maximum Payment Amount |
| Hepatitis C Stage 1 | £50,000 |
| Hepatitis C Stage 2 | £20,000 |
| Mono HIV | £80,500 |
| Co-Infected HIV & Hepatitis C Stage 1 | £130,500 |
| Co-Infected HIV & Hepatitis C Stage 2 | £100,500 |
| Bereaved Spouse/Partner/Estates | £10,000 |
How payments affect tax and benefits
Income Tax
Any lump sum or regular payments from the scheme, such as annual payments or income top-up support, are not taxable. This means that the Infected Blood Payment Scheme for Northern Ireland does not need to deduct Income Tax from your payments.
You don’t need to declare the payments in any income tax return you submit to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Tax on interest on payments from Scheme / interim compensation payments
Since 1988, successive governments have set up various schemes to provide financial support to individuals infected with Hepatitis C, HIV or both through NHS treatment with contaminated blood products. The longstanding position has been that such ex gratia payments should be exempt from tax.
Following the introduction of new schemes, legislation was introduced in 2017 to ensure that periodical payments to beneficiaries from those schemes were exempt from income tax, in the same way as periodical payments from existing schemes.
The exemption only extends to the periodical payments or annuities in respect of the damages. Any return from investing those sums is not exempted. Once any money received from compensation is invested any interest received on that investment will be taxable in the normal way and should be declared in tax returns and self-assessments. Independent financial advice should be sought as previously advertised.
Benefits
Payments from the scheme are not taken into account when applying for any of the following means-tested benefits from the Department for Communities:
- Income support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- State Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
This means that your income and any grants from the scheme are not taken into account when the Department for Communities assess your application. However, you are still required to declare to the Department for Communities any payments that you receive from the scheme.
If you don’t tell the Department for Communities about payments received from the scheme, they won’t be able to determine what money they should ignore. This might mean any benefits that depend on the amount of money you have could be affected. If you have any problems, let us know. We can provide you with a letter to confirm payments you have received from us and inform the Department for Communities to disregard our payments to you.
How to apply
To apply, contact the Infected Blood Payment Scheme for Northern Ireland.
Making a claim
The UK support schemes (Eileen Trust, MacFarlane Trust, MFET Ltd, Skipton Fund & Caxton Foundation) are no longer in operation and there is no option available to continue to receive payments from these schemes. If you would like to apply to the Infected Blood Payment Scheme for Northern Ireland for the first time or if you have any queries please contact the scheme by email (bso.ibss@hscni.net), telephone (028 9536 3817) or in writing to:-
Infected Blood Payment Scheme for Northern Ireland
Business Services Organisation
Finance Directorate 2nd Floor
2 Franklin Street
Belfast
BT2 8DQ
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Contact Us
Email: bso.ibss@hscni.net
Telephone: 028 95363817
Write to Us:
Infected Blood Payment Scheme for Northern Ireland
Business Services Organisation
Finance Directorate, 2nd Floor
2 Franklin Street
Belfast
BT2 8DQ