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.
Our priority is to ensure all beneficiaries receive the payments they are due, as quickly as possible. Backdated payments are due to many existing scheme beneficiaries, who were part of the England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS).
We have now completed identifying the correct payment amounts for all beneficiaries on the scheme, where we have all of the necessary payment information.
For a small number of beneficiaries, we are undertaking a one-off data matching/sharing exercise with Russell-Cooke Solicitors to identify and receive the missing payment information, to ensure we can make payments to these beneficiaries.
We have 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.
EIBSS are planning to make lump sum payments to as many beneficiaries as possible before 1 August 2021, which is subject to having the funding in place to do so. EIBSS will be able to confirm that this date is achievable once funding is received, an update will be published on the news page of the EIBSS website by 16 July 2021 to confirm this.
We’ll communicate with each beneficiary directly as possible, regarding the date and amount of payment they can expect to receive. We will communicate these details before this payment is made.
Bereaved partner’s payments - these payments will replace the current Income Top Up (ITU) process
EIBSS has started a project to understand and build the technology that is needed to make these payments and bereaved partner payments will be introduced before the end of the 2021 calendar year.