Special Category Mechanism
Infected Blood Inquiry · Additional Report on Compensation · Issued 9 July 2025 · Addressed to: UK Government
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
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)"
Infected Blood Inquiry, Additional Report on Compensation · 9 Jul 2025 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- A consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme was opened on 24 November 2025, covering this award (Consultation: Proposed Changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, Cabinet Office, November 2025).
Response — verbatim from government
●UK Government
In his oral evidence to the Inquiry, the Minister for the Cabinet Office agreed to look again at how the Scheme reflects the existing Special Category Mechanism and its equivalents. The England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS) includes a payment category for those with chronic Hepatitis C where beneficiaries have experienced a significant impact on their ability to carry out daily duties as a result of their infection or treatment: this is referred to as Special Category Mechanism (SCM). Equivalent payment categories are also provided under the other national support schemes. The Government acknowledges the level of community concern raised during the Inquiry regarding how the Scheme considers the impacts captured by SCM. The Government accepts that a change must be made to the scheme in terms of recognition of SCM impacts. The Government has accepted the Inquiry's recommendation that the Severe Health Condition award should recognise impacts associated with SCM. Current IBSS beneficiaries will be automatically eligible for the award. The Government will consult on how eligibility should be established for non IBSS applicants.
UK Government · 21 Jul 2025 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 21 Jul 2025 14 April 2026 update: Government response (CP 1565) does not reopen the February 2025 decision on Sir Robert Francis KC's recommendations directly, but introduces additional financial loss and care compensation via a new Special Category Mechanism route for people eligible for SCM/IBSS equivalent payments, backdated to 2017. Sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-infected-blood-compensation-scheme-will-improve-support-for-victims; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69ddf5fd7e2086c62da2f152/Government_response_to_consultation_on_proposed_changes_to_the_infected_blood_compensation_scheme__PDF_.pdf Source →
- 15 Jan 2026 · IBCA Community Update As of 13 January 2026: 3,721 people asked to start claims, 3,546 begun process, 3,074 received offers totalling £2.47bn, 2,861 paid totalling £1.89bn. Third compensation regulations in force 31 December 2025. View source → Good Progress
- 31 Dec 2025 · UK Parliament Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 established IBCA. Three sets of scheme regulations in force (Aug 2024, Mar 2025, Dec 2025). First payments December 2024. £1.89bn paid to 2,861 people by January 2026. View source → Good Progress
- 28 Oct 2025 · IBCA Independent Review IBCA has contacted 2,215 people to begin compensation claims; 1,934 started process. £812m+ paid via Horizon Shortfall Scheme. £11.8bn committed in Autumn Budget. View source → Reasonable Progress
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.