Infected Blood Inquiry

The scheme be opened to registration to everyone who may be eligible.

In September 2026, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority stated that the fourth set of regulations for the compensation scheme became law in July 2026 and would be incorporated into its service from 1 October (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026). It confirmed in September 2026 that its website, calculator, and guidance were being updated to reflect the regulations for anyone entering the service after 1 October, while it was contacting previously paid applicants to review their claims (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026).

There be forms (devised by IBCA) for people to register and apply for a core award and the supplementary awards with/without the necessary evidence and with/without calculation of compensation, and as an intermediate step that IBCA provide the option to move straight to the declaration stage for individuals providing all the necessary information.

In a news release in July 2025, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority stated that it had given its response to the inquiry's additional report on compensation published on 9 July 2025, confirming, "We accept all recommendations in the report for IBCA" (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025). The record holds no update since the authority's response of July 2025 (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025).

IBCA include a prominent reference to the availability of legal support paid by IBCA on all registration and application forms and in public information about the compensation scheme and that the Solicitors Regulation Authority remind solicitors of their obligations.

In September 2026, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority stated that it can arrange legal support when a claim begins, provided through six independent legal firms that "offer impartial advice at no cost" (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026). It explained that it can discuss alternative arrangements if an individual wishes to use a different firm to support their claim (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026).

When IBCA opens up the service beyond people infected and registered with the support schemes, IBCA: (i) update the sequencing to three cohorts, people infected and never compensated, the deceased infected, and people affected and (ii) adopt a scheme of prioritisation within each cohort which can be objectively applied and is easily understandable and (iii) progress the cohorts in parallel not sequentially.

In September 2026, Baroness Twycross, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Cabinet Office, stated that the Infected Blood Compensation Authority has opened its service to all cohorts and is contacting claimants across all groups in line with the Inquiry's prioritisation criteria for people at the end of life, with advanced liver disease, or aged 75 or over (Baroness Twycross, Sep 2026). Earlier that month, the authority announced an ambition to bring 5,000 claims to decision between April 2026 and March 2027, prioritising living infected and deceased infected cohorts (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026). Also in September 2026, Mark Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary at the department, reported that 1,099 people acting for deceased infected individuals had been invited to claim, with over £65 million paid out (Mark Ferguson, Sep 2026).

IBCA consider making provision, either generally or in specific cases, for oral representations to be made where a decision is reviewed internally, and for the individual concerned and/or their lawyer to attend the review panel.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority stated in July 2025 that it accepts all recommendations in the inquiry's additional report for the authority, including the recommendation to consider making provision for oral representations and for individuals and their lawyers to attend internal decision review panels (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025). The record holds no update since the Infected Blood Compensation Authority's response of July 2025 (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025).

Written reasons for the original decision must be provided so that the review process can operate fairly.

In a news release issued on 21 July 2025 regarding the Infected Blood Inquiry additional report published on 9 July 2025, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority stated that it accepted all recommendations in the report addressed to the organisation (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025). The record holds no update since the Infected Blood Compensation Authority's response of July 2025 (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025).

IBCA should publish: guidance, advice or instructions to claim managers; work undertaken by IBCA with the Cabinet Office's policy team to ensure that IBCA understands "in depth the policy intent behind each regulation"; the papers that have been produced by IBCA addressing specific issues within the Regulations – such as the "dating principles paper", the "paper on HIV infection dating" and the "Hepatitis B (post-1972) paper" – and any future similar papers; IBCA's approach to the Hepatitis severity bandings in Schedule 1 to the 2025 Regulations; minutes of the meetings of IBCA's Board (except where publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, or for other special reasons stated by resolution of the Board and arising from the nature of that business or of the proceedings).

In a news release on 21 July 2025 responding to the Infected Blood Inquiry additional report published on 9 July, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority confirmed that it had given its response and stated, "We accept all recommendations in the report for IBCA" (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025). The record holds no update since the authority's response of July 2025 (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025).

In respect of any case in which the advice of a clinical assessor has been given, in relation to the person concerned (and no more widely except with the consent of that person): that person should be told the factual basis on which that advice has been given; and the reasons for that advice. Such information must be shared with the individual in writing in sufficient detail so that they, and where represented, their solicitor, can understand and where appropriate challenge the correctness of that advice.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority stated in July 2025, in its news release responding to the inquiry's additional report published on 9 July 2025, that it had given its response and confirmed that "We accept all recommendations in the report for IBCA" (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025). The record holds no update since the authority's response of July 2025 (Infected Blood Compensation Authority response, Jul 2025).

A formal role be given within IBCA for an advisory body consisting of people infected and affected, covering a range of experience broadly representative of those groups, and (if those groups so wish) including clinicians covering the major relevant disciplines of hepatitis and liver disease, HIV, transfusion, haemophilia, psychosocial aspects and palliative care. The advisory body should choose its chair, and the chair should be formally invited to each and every meeting of the Board of IBCA, and be given observer status.

In September 2026, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority reported that implementation remained in progress, noting that its Community Advisory Panel had recommended establishing an Ethics Advisory Panel (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026). In the same September 2026 update, the authority stated that the panel would advise on decisions raising ethical questions and confirmed that Professor Dave Archard had been appointed as interim chair (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026).

To build confidence that IBCA is actively listening to people infected and affected, IBCA adopt more of a structured response to contributions from people infected and affected. Consideration should be given, as a minimum, to making a contemporaneous record of IBCA's understanding of the matters that had been raised in meetings with people infected and affected and setting out IBCA's response to each point.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority reported in its September 2026 community update that work on this recommendation was in progress (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026). Addressing community questions, the authority stated that people are welcome to have a friend, family member, or support organisation join calls to provide emotional reassurance and help them understand information (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026). It noted that these accompanying supporters can also help meet agreed communication needs and "ask for clarification" (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sep 2026).

The Government and IBCA establish a mechanism by which individuals or organisations may raise concerns which arise about any aspect of the scheme which from time to time is troubling them. The mechanism is intended to help continuous improvement of, and/or aid understanding of, any aspect of the scheme. It should involve identifying a person or body to whom any such concern should be expressed, whose role it is to consider the concern, log it, and ensure that a person of appropriate seniority either responds to it in writing, or ensure that it is placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the advisory body or IBCA's Board or is considered by the Cabinet Office and Minister as appropriate.

The Inquiry recommended creating a mechanism for individuals and organisations to raise scheme concerns. In July 2026, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) and the Cabinet Office stated that they had launched a new route to raise concerns, describing action on scheme design and delivery (Infected Blood Compensation Authority and Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). In June 2026, Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, told a parliamentary committee that he was satisfied sufficient processes existed to address issues before closing the inquiry (Sir Brian Langstaff, Jun 2026).

An amendment to the Regulations be made as soon as possible to remove the reference to 1 January 1982 from Regulation 3.

The Inquiry asked the UK Government to remove the 1982 start date for HIV compensation. In April 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that regulatory changes came into force in December 2025, ensuring anyone infected with HIV from infected blood treatment received before 1 January 1982 is eligible for compensation (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). The department had previously agreed in July 2025 to amend the scheme to remove the 1982 date, stating that for financial loss awards without a specific infection date, the calculation would mirror the 1952 start date used for hepatitis (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

People infected with Hepatitis B or C who have received a course of treatment with or based on interferon should be recognised as entitled to core awards at Level 3.

The Inquiry recommended Level 3 core awards for people treated with interferon. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that regulations would introduce a Level 2B award reflecting interferon side effects, with compensation provided for each round of treatment (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). This followed its April 2026 consultation response confirming that the new severity band would provide higher injury, financial loss, and care payments than Level 2 (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). The department had initially proposed creating Level 2B rather than adopting the recommended Level 3 band in July 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

The Government reconsider whether to maintain its rejection in February 2025 of the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis KC and advice from the Infected Blood Inquiry Response Expert Group of August 2024, which was expressly accepted at the time by the Government, to introduce (as one of six health impact groups which would justify a severe health condition award) the following for people infected with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C: "Other Hepatitis C associated extra hepatic disorders resulting in long-term severe disability. This includes those currently assessed as the following category on IBSS: Hepatitis Special Category Mechanism (EIBSS); 'Severely Affected' Hepatitis C (SIBSS); Hepatitis C Stage 1 Plus (WIBSS); Hepatitis C Stage 1 Enhanced Payments (NIIBSS)"

The Inquiry asked the Government to recognise Special Category Mechanism impacts in severe health condition awards. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office explained that regulations ensure anyone eligible for the Special Category Mechanism (SCM) or equivalent Infected Blood Support Schemes (IBSS) payments receives additional financial loss and care compensation backdated to 2017 (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). The department stated that living individuals not previously assessed as eligible can also apply, though Hepatitis B is not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). Earlier, the department announced in April 2026 that it would create this supplementary route, following its July 2025 acceptance that the severe health condition award should recognise SCM impacts (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025; Cabinet Office, Apr 2026).

For the calculation of Financial Loss awards for Hepatitis B, people born after 1953 should be treated like those born in or before 1953 on provision of evidence that their health did not improve or that it remained difficult to find work from 2009. For the calculation of Financial Loss awards for Hepatitis C, people born after 1961 should be treated like those born in or before 1961 on provision of evidence that their health did not improve or that it remained difficult to find work from 2017.

The Inquiry recommended adjusting financial loss calculations for individuals with hepatitis B and C. In July 2025, the Cabinet Office accepted the recommendation and stated it will remove the earnings floor on the supplementary route Exceptional Loss award so individuals can demonstrate an inability to return to work, though the birth year thresholds were not mentioned (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

Where the level of severity of a person's infection at Level 3 or more has been established to IBCA's satisfaction in relation to a given year, but it is not known when it reached Level 3 or more, the legislative provisions should apply to deem the level of severity in the years which preceded that given year.

The Inquiry recommended deeming infection severity levels for earlier years when timing is unknown. In April 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that provisions used by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) have changed to compensate anyone with a Level 4 Hepatitis infection for the period likely spent at Level 3 (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). In July 2025, the department had stated that it would amend regulations so those diagnosed with a Level 4 Hepatitis infection unable to evidence disease progression would be deemed to have spent up to six years prior with a Level 3 infection (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

Regulation 14(2)(c) be amended to remove the requirement for evidence of the date of diagnosis of Hepatitis B or C. An appropriate redraft to achieve this would be: "where the diagnosis mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) is one of HIV, the date on which it was given."

The Inquiry recommended removing the requirement to evidence Hepatitis B or C diagnosis dates. In April 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that "a date of diagnosis for Hepatitis B and C no longer has to be provided" when applying for the scheme (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). This followed the department's announcement in July 2025 that the Government accepted the recommendation to remove the requirement in order to aid quicker processing of claims (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

The approach of the Infected Blood Psychology Service is adopted so that both a diagnosis made by a psychiatric professional and a formulation-based opinion of all qualified psychological and counselling professionals are accepted as sufficient evidence of severe psychological harm and that such evidence should qualify a person for a supplementary Severe Health Condition award without the additional need to demonstrate a period of consultant-led secondary mental health treatment or assessment/treatment as an inpatient.

The Inquiry recommended accepting psychological formulations for severe health condition compensation awards. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that new regulations introduce an award enabling supplementary route applications for those experiencing psychological harm (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). The department previously confirmed in April 2026 that this award would provide additional financial loss and care compensation (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). It had committed in July 2025 to consult on evidential requirements and thresholds, but accepting psychological formulations without secondary mental health treatment is not mentioned in the sources (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025; Cabinet Office, Jul 2026).

"x" be removed from the equation set out in Regulation 7.

The Inquiry asked the UK Government to remove variable x from the equation in Regulation 7. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that amendment regulations would remove the 25 per cent deduction applied to past care compensation for individuals who choose to receive support scheme payments for life (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). The department had confirmed in April 2026 that it would remove the deduction following a consultation (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). In July 2025, it accepted the need for a change to the scheme but planned to consult, stating that the recommended alteration affected past care rather than past financial loss (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

The Cabinet Office consult on whether the evidential requirements for exceptional reduced earnings are likely to prove a barrier to people who have sufficient evidence that their eligibility for such an award could with confidence be established on a balance of probabilities, and if so to consider what if any provision might be introduced to enable them to access an award.

The Inquiry asked for consultation on evidential barriers to exceptional loss awards. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that it will work with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) to communicate the broad range of alternative evidence eligible people can use, ensuring that lacking historic payslips is not a barrier (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). The department previously announced in April 2026 that a new £60,000 award would be introduced for infected people who had entered or had an offer for a higher-paying career but lacked evidence of actual higher earnings (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026).

Where there is evidence that an individual was the victim of unethical research practices IBCA should be authorised to make an unethical research practices award to that individual.

The Inquiry recommended authorising compensation awards for victims of unethical research practices. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office explained that new regulations make anyone treated for a bleeding disorder before 1986 eligible for an unethical research award without having to prove participation in a specific trial (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). This followed its April 2026 consultation response confirming broad eligibility for individuals treated in the UK before 1986 (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). The department had previously stated in July 2025 that it would consult on establishing an award requiring minimal evidence and consistent criteria (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

When considering the evidence IBCA applies the wider definition of research explained in the Infected Blood Inquiry Additional Report chapter on Unethical Research.

The Inquiry asked the UK Government to apply a wider definition of unethical research. In July 2026, regulations made by the Secretary of State and signed by Louise Haigh, First Secretary of State, established that an eligible person was subject to unethical research practices if treated for a bleeding disorder before 1986 (The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2026, Jul 2026). The Cabinet Office had stated in April 2026 that people would not need to prove participation in a specific medical trial (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). The department previously announced in July 2025 that it would consult on an award requiring minimal evidence (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

The Minister consider whether the £10,000 (£15,000 for Treloar's pupils) should in justice be increased and further decides what sum he considers accords most closely with the general public's sense of justice and fairness in respect of an individual being subject of research without informed consent.

The Inquiry recommended reviewing and increasing compensation award amounts for unethical research. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that amending regulations increased awards for unethical research to £30,000 for adults, £45,000 for children, and £60,000 for former Treloar's pupils (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). The department had set out these increased values in April 2026 in response to a consultation on proposed scheme changes (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). It had previously committed in July 2025 to consult on awards that minimise delays and ensure consistency (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

The Minister give consideration to there being a supplementary route for people affected. This could include opening the supplemental award for severe psychological harm to people affected. He should involve parents, children, siblings, partners and carers, and their legal representatives if wished, in this consideration.

The Inquiry asked the Minister to consider a supplementary compensation route for affected people. In July 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that regulations introduced a 50% uplift to core injury awards for eligible bereaved parents, bereaved partners, and certain children and siblings, though carers were not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Jul 2026). This followed the department's April 2026 consultation response confirming higher compensation for some affected individuals (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). In July 2025, it had agreed to consult affected family members and carers on whether a route for severe psychological harm was feasible without causing significant delay (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).

The Regulations be amended such that where someone who would be an eligible affected person dies between 21 May 2024 and 31 December 2029, their claim does not die with them but becomes part of their estate.

The Inquiry asked that deceased affected persons' compensation claims pass to their estates. The Cabinet Office stated in April 2026 that estates of individuals who died between 21 May 2024 and 31 March 2031 are now eligible to apply for compensation (Cabinet Office, Apr 2026). In June 2026, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority reported that estates remain eligible where an affected person dies between 21 May 2024 and 31 March 2031 across the lifetime of the scheme (Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Jun 2026).

The IBSS cut-off date of 31 March 2025 be reviewed, that the scheme should as soon as possible reinstate support payments to partners bereaved after 31 March 2025 until such time as they receive compensation and that they should have a continuation of those payments as an option in their compensation package.

The Inquiry recommended reinstating support payments for partners bereaved after 31 March 2025. In July 2025, the Cabinet Office stated that the government accepted the recommendation, allowing partners bereaved after 1 April 2025 whose partner had not received compensation while alive to join an Infected Blood Support Scheme (IBSS) (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025). The department confirmed that these partners would receive support scheme payments until receiving compensation, with the option to continue receiving them for life (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025). The record holds nothing dated later than the response of July 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Jul 2025).