Public Inquiry

Government makes changes to compensation scheme

Written by Jessica Bomford, July 22, 2025

The government will make significant changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, following additional recommendations set out by the Infected Blood Inquiry on 9 July 2025.

Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons on 21 July, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, the minister with responsibility for implementing the inquiry’s recommendations, agreed with the inquiry that there was ‘still more to be done to to ensure that the detail and operation of the scheme matches up to its intent’.

Review of compensation roll-out

Mr Thomas-Symonds said he had ordered a review of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority’s (IBCA) delivery of compensation, supported by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority which would begin in August 2025.

He said he expected IBCA to contact everyone infected and registered on a UK support scheme by the end of 2025 and to have opened the service to the affected by the same deadline.

Recommendations accepted

The government has agreed to the majority of the inquiry’s recommendations, including allowing the estates of affected people to claim compensation owed. IBCA has accepted all of the recommendations from the inquiry’s Additional Report on Compensation.

Mr Thomas-Symonds announced that the estates of the deceased infected will receive an interim compensation payment of £210,000 in addition to the £100,000 payment already available.

For people infected with hepatitis B or C, the impact of interferon treatment will be recognised with an additional core payment category and the Special Category Mechanism (SCM) will be classed as a ‘severe health condition’ in the supplementary route. Anyone who received SCM or equivalent through support schemes will be automatically entitled to this payment. The government is working out how to establish eligibility for infected people not on support schemes.

Main changes to the scheme

The key points announced by Mr Thomas-Symonds are:

HIV ‘start date’ of infection as 1982 onwards will be removed
Date of diagnosis for hepatitis infections will be removed from the application process
Estates can claim compensation on behalf of any affected person who dies between 21 May 2024 and 31 March 2031 without receiving their compensation
Interferon will be a new payment band – known as 2B – through the core route. Government to consult on the level of the award.
Partners bereaved after 1 April 2025 whose spouse was registered to a support scheme and had not already received compensation can join a support scheme and get payments until they get their own compensation payment. They can choose to continue to receive payments for life.
Government to review past financial loss and care calculations to ensure that those choosing to continue support payments do not receive less than those who choose not to continue payments
Government to consult with expanded Expert Group to review eligibility for severe psychological harm payment
Government agrees to look again at the unethical research payment and says it will consult on the best way forward
Government to consult on feasibility of affected people being eligible for supplementary route payments
Government accepts that people who were not able to return to work after more effective treatments for hepatis B and C were introduced are being penalised through the scheme’s financial loss calculations. Changes will be made to the ‘exceptional loss award for financial loss’ in the supplementary route to address this.

Mr Thomas-Symonds stressed the need for greater transparency and for more consultation with the infected blood community. He said: ‘People impacted by decisions need to be involved in them.’

808 people offered compensation

Mr Thomas-Symonds said that 60% of infected people registered on a support scheme had now been contacted by IBCA and asked to start their claim. As of 15 July 2025, 2,215 people had been contacted, 808 offers of compensation had been made and 587 people had accepted their settlement.

More regulations needed

The government will need to lay more regulations before parliament to make the changes proposed. Some regulations will be drafted by the end of the year but Mr Thomas-Symonds said that for the issues where community consultation is needed, regulations would be drafted in 2026. He stressed that he did not think the changes would delay compensation payments.

What next for IBCA?

IBCA has accepted all recommendations made by the inquiry. This means it has committed to opening a registration scheme for everyone who believes they are eligible for compensation. It will also need to develop a new system to process more than one group simultaneously as the inquiry wanted claims from the affected and estates to be started alongside the surviving infected. Priority would be given to the elderly and those at end of life in all groups. IBCA will work with the infected blood community to develop plans for designing and implementing these recommendations.

THS president to lead memorial committee

It was also announced that Clive Smith, President of the Haemophilia Society and our former chair, will lead the Infected Blood Memorial Committee. Read more here.

Psychological support across the UK

A reminder that the Infected Blood Psychological Service is now up and running in England for people infected and affected. You can refer yourself to the service by phoning 0300 131 0444. Details of infected blood psychological support throughout the UK are here.

Read a full transcript of Mr Thomas-Symonds’ statement to MPs here.