Recommendation IBI-A-6b: Exceptional Loss Evidence
From Additional Report on Compensation, published 9 July 2025.
Recommendation
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.
In brief (written by this site)
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).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
The exceptional loss award which is part of the supplementary route provides additional compensation for those infected people who would have received higher pay if it were not for their infection. The Government commits to consult the community on the evidential requirements to access this award to ensure it is available for those intended within the limits of a tariff based scheme.
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (23 July 2026)
Otherwise, the Exceptional Loss award will continue to be available through the supplementary route for people who can provide evidence of earning more than the core route before they were infected. The Government understands from the consultation that some people are concerned that they will not be able to access this award if they do not have historic payslips. The Government will work with IBCA to ensure that communications are clear about the broad range of alternative evidence that people could use to show they are eligible for the Exceptional Loss award so that this is not a barrier.
From: Explanatory Memorandum to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026
Site note: The Cabinet Office's Explanatory Memorandum to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/872). The memorandum carries no date of its own; the row is dated 23 July 2026, the day the Regulations were made. They came into force the next day.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 April 2026)
More compensation will be available for people who would have had the potential to earn higher than average if it weren’t for the impact of the infection on their life, but who do not have actual evidence of higher earnings. We will introduce a new £60,000 award for infected people who can show that they had entered or had an offer to enter a career where the median gross salary is 10% higher than the gross median earnings in 2023, but who were unable to progress this career due to their infection.
From: Government response to consultation on proposed changes to the infected blood compensation scheme
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement