Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 84
84
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 274
Claimants' financial concerns deter access to Windrush review process
Conclusion
We are concerned to hear that some claimants may be reluctant to access the review process due to concerns about the impact of further delay on their financial situation.
Government Response Summary
The government describes its existing two-stage review process and states that preliminary payments are available for certain criteria. It acknowledges the difficulty in providing review timescales but says Tier 1 will resolve cases at pace, without directly addressing the committee's concern about claimant reluctance due to delay.
Paragraph Reference:
274
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
If an individual is dissatisfied with the outcome of their compensation claim, they can ask the Home Office to review its decision. This will be an internal independent review by someone who has not been involved in the consideration of an individual’s case. If an individual remains dissatisfied, they can then request an external independent review outside of the Home Office. Their claim will be looked at by the Adjudicator’s Office. The Adjudicator’s Office is a separate organisation, independent of the Home Office who can look at, among other things, whether the department has followed its policies, and the use of discretion by the Windrush Compensation Team. The preliminary payment is payable to those who meet the criteria at level 1 of the Impact on Life scale. Close family members have always had to reach level 2 on the Impact on Life scale to receive a payment under the Scheme. It is very difficult to provide timescales on reviews, given the varying nature of the claims and their complexities. What we can say is that Tier 1 will work to resolve cases at pace, liaising with the customers regarding expectation on decision delivery.