Compensation ‘taking too long’ say our members

Written by Jessica Bomford, November 25, 2025

Representatives from the Cabinet Office and the Infected Blood Compensation Authority were told directly that compensation payments were ‘taking too long’ at a special session for the infected blood community at our Big Get-Together (BGT) conference on 22 November.

A panel including David Foley, interim Chief Executive of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and Ellie Nicolson, director of the Cabinet Office’s Public Inquiry Response Unit, faced questions from the BGT audience. Ms Nicolson said that there was unlikely to be a significant update until the current consultation on the government’s proposed changes to the compensation scheme ended on 22 January 2026. She said there would be a government response to the consultation within 12 weeks of it closing with related legislation laid in Parliament before the summer recess. You can take part in the government’s consultation here.

Inheritance Tax concerns

Ms Nicholson was asked about emerging concerns that some compensation payments are liable for Inheritance Tax, despite government assurances that the payments are exempt from the tax. She said she was ‘aware of the strength of feeling’ around this issue. She also acknowledged criticism that compensation payments to affected people were ‘taking far too long’.

Mr Foley said IBCA would begin estate and affected claims by the end of December 2025, but said this would be a small number initially and would follow the inquiry’s recommendation of prioritising those at end of life and the elderly.

Lack of trust

He was told by a member of the BGT audience that the level of mistrust within some in the community was such that one recipient of a £100,000 interim compensation payment had not spent a penny because they believed it would be taken back from them. Mr Foley attempted to reassure that person but accepted that trust was a difficult to win.

Also on the panel were Clive Smith, Chair of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee, Sam Richards, an independent financial adviser and Victoria Miller, Professional Lead of the Infected Blood Psychological Service (IBPS).

National Remembrance Service announced

Clive announced that a National Service of Remembrance will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on 19 May 2026 for the infected blood community. He said the Infected Blood Inquiry’s memorial, which is a large rack of messages from loved ones contained in medical specimen jars that was previously located at the inquiry has found a new permanent home at the University of Manchester.

Ms Miller told BGT that 460 people had been in contact with IBPS since it was set up earlier this year. She urged people to use the service, which is open to those infected and affected in England. Details of the service are here. There is psychological support for people in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland which can be accessed through the infected blood support schemes.

Financial guidance

Sam Richards outlined what financial guidance is available to people going through the compensation process and emphasised that even if people have completed their claim they can still access the free service. He said that temporarily high bank balances are covered by the The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for up to six months and urged people not to rush into a decision without getting trusted, expert financial advice.

We are grateful to all panellists, plus additional members of the IBCA team, for spending the whole day at BGT, allowing lots of people to have private, individual conversations about their personal situation.

Join infected blood webinar on 27 November

If you missed BGT, The Hepatitis C Trust is running a webinar in partnership with the Haemophilia Society on Thursday, 27 November at 5pm to discuss where we’re at with infected blood compensation. To sign up, follow this link.