On 25 March, the government announced changes to the England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS). The changes announced remove some of the differences between the Infected Blood Support Schemes across the UK.
Since the announcement, EIBSS has been working with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to understand the detail of the key elements announced, so that we can make accurate payments as quickly as possible.
EIBSS have now completed all of the necessary preparation and checks, to enable us to make the following payments on 27 July 2021, for beneficiaries where we have all of the payment information:
- A lump sum payment of £30,000 paid to current hepatitis C stage 1 and Special Category Mechanism (SCM) existing scheme beneficiaries.
- A lump sum payment up to £80,500 maximum, paid to current HIV existing scheme beneficiaries. The lump sum amount will vary based on the amount a beneficiary has already received.
- A lump sum bereavement payment of £10,000 will be paid to existing scheme beneficiaries who are now entitled to this payment based upon the criteria change, where hepatitis C or HIV did not contribute to the death.
If you have not received a letter or payment from us by 1 August 2021, contact us.
All beneficiaries who are entitled to receive these payments will receive a letter, email or call prior to the payment date, confirming the amount they will receive and the date of payment.
We require further information for a small number of beneficiaries to be able to make their payment. This information is currently being checked with Russell-Cooke Solicitors and we will contact all beneficiaries this applies to before 1 August 2021.
Bereaved partner’s payments - these payments will replace the current Income Top Up (ITU) process
EIBSS have started a digital project to fully understand and build the payment and administrative system changes that are needed to make these bereaved partner’s payments.
Introducing bereaved partner’s payments is technically complex and will take some time to introduce, as this type of payment has previously not existed within EIBSS.
These payments will be introduced before the end of the 2021 calendar year.