IR2-13 Response Accepted Self-assessed

Relationship with Support Schemes and Benefits

Recommendation

I recommend that, with regard to the relationship between compensation, support payments and benefits: a) in assessing compensation under the scheme, no account should be taken of any past payments made under the support schemes or their predecessors; b) the current annual payments under the support schemes should be continued (or merged into the compensation scheme) and guaranteed for life, by legislation or secure government undertaking; c) such continued payments should be taken into account in assessing awards for future financial loss or care provision; d) such deductions as would be made from damages under the Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997, but no other, should be made in respect of equivalent awards under the scheme; e) awards of financial loss should be made net of tax, but the awards themselves should not be liable to taxation, and should be regarded for tax purposes as if they were support payments; f) any lump sum award under the scheme should be made exempt from inheritance tax by an equivalent addition to the inheritance tax free allowance of the recipient.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
AI analysis did not return a result for this recommendation.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Response
Accepted
Accepted UK Government Initial Response
17 Dec 2024

As per recommendation 13 of the Second Interim Report, any payments made to those eligible under the Scheme will be exempt from income tax, capital gains tax, and inheritance tax. Any payments will also be disregarded from means tested benefit assessments (which includes council tax and nursing home fees). This includes payments made to recipients of compensation via the estate of an infected person.

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Accepted UK Government Follow-up
14 May 2025

Support scheme payments continue alongside compensation and are guaranteed for life. Past support payments not deducted from compensation. Compensation awards are tax-free. Inheritance tax exemptions provided.

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Progress Timeline
Official Report
17 Dec 2024

Support scheme continuation and tax treatment implemented.

Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Good Progress
15 Jan 2026
IBCA Community Update Other

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 detailed findings

IBCA exceeded initial expectations. Three sets of regulations now in force covering infected persons, affected persons, and supplementary routes. £11.8bn committed in October 2024 Budget. Independent review found "very creditable progress."

IBCA Community Update, 15 January 2026 View Source
Good Progress
31 Dec 2025
UK Parliament legislation

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.

Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 20… View Source
Reasonable Progress
28 Oct 2025
IBCA Independent Review Other

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 detailed findings

IBCA exceeded expectations for first cohort and established operational service with "compassionate ethos." Target: bulk of infected payments by 2027, affected by 2029. Third compensation scheme regulations came into law 31 December 2025.

IBCA CO-Sponsored Independent Review Report, Octo… View Source
Good Progress
22 Jul 2025
IBCA Community Update Other

Infected Blood Compensation Authority established August 2024. First claims for deceased infected/affected opened December 2025. IBCA accepted all 11 recommendations directed to them.

IBCA Community Update, July 2025 View Source
Source
Report Second Interim Report 05 Apr 2023
Responsible Bodies
UK Government Primary
Recommendation age 3.0 yrs
Last formal update 14 May 2025