Recommendation POH-18: Devise redress process for affected family members
From Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry: Volume 1 Report, published 8 July 2025.
Recommendation
The Department shall devise a process for providing financial redress to close family members of those most adversely affected by Horizon. Such family members shall qualify for such redress only if they themselves, have suffered serious adverse consequences by reason of their family relationship with the person or persons directly affected by Horizon.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended creating a financial redress process for close family members affected by Horizon. In an October 2026 update, the Cabinet Office reported that registration opened in July 2026 for prospective applicants to submit assessment information (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). It noted that claims processing is expected to begin once a third-party supplier has been appointed to deliver the scheme (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In March 2026, the Business and Trade Committee HC 1598 welcomed the scheme but urged the government to expand eligibility beyond spouses and children to include other relatives demonstrating adverse consequences (Business and Trade Committee HC 1598, Mar 2026).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 16 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Some family members of postmasters suffered gravely because of the Horizon scandal. As set out in the Minister for Postal Affairs’ statement to the House of Commons on 8 July 2025, DBT has committed to establishing a new redress scheme for postmasters’ close family members who suffered personal injuries, including mental injuries, as a result of the Horizon scandal. DBT is engaging closely with the Lost Chances for Subpostmasters’ Children group, claimants’ legal representatives and the Advisory Board. It will continue to seek input from key stakeholders as it designs the scheme and process for assessing claims.
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (5 October 2026)
The Government is committed to establishing a new redress scheme for close family members of existing Horizon members who were most seriously affected by the Horizon scandal. BIST has engaged closely with key stakeholders, including the Lost Chances group, claimants' legal representatives and the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board on scheme design. On 19 March 2026, the Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation anounced further details about the scheme, including the two claim routes that would be open to eligible applicants. On 16 July 2026, registration for the scheme opened through an online form on gov.uk, allowing prospective applicants to submit information that will support assessment of their applications. Claims processing is expected to begin once a third-party supplier has been appointed to deliver the scheme.
From: Post Office (Horizon) Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, October 2026 (data file)
Department for Business and Trade says in progress (14 July 2026)
I am happy to announce that the Horizon family member redress scheme will open for registration on 16 July 2026. This will allow potential applicants to come forward and begin the process by submitting information that will support the assessment of their applications later this autumn.
From: Horizon Family Members Redress Scheme: Registration Opening
Earlier statements on delivery (3)
Cabinet Office (16 June 2026)
Some family members of postmasters suffered gravely because of the Horizon scandal. As set out in the then Minister for Postal Affairs' statement to the House of Commons on 8 July 2025, DBT has committed to establishing a new redress scheme for postmasters' close family members who suffered personal injuries, including mental injuries, as a result of the Horizon scandal. DBT is engaging closely with the Lost Chances group, claimants' legal representatives, and the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board. It will continue to seek input from key stakeholders as it designs the scheme and process for assessing claims. The Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation announced further details about the scheme on 19 March 2026. The scheme is due to launch later in 2026.
From: Post Office (Horizon) Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, May 2026 (data file)
Department for Business and Trade (19 March 2026)
This scheme follows the Government’s acceptance of recommendation 18 in volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report (that financial redress should be provided to close family members of those most adversely impacted by the Horizon scandal), and of similar recommendations made by the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board.
Cabinet Office (2 March 2026)
Some family members of postmasters suffered gravely because of the Horizon scandal. As set out in the then Minister for Postal Affairs’ statement to the House of Commons on 8 July 2025, DBT has committed to establishing a new redress scheme for postmasters’ close family members who suffered personal injuries, including mental injuries, as a result of the Horizon scandal. DBT is engaging closely with the Lost Chances for Subpostmasters’ Children group, claimants’ legal representatives and the Advisory Board. It will continue to seek input from key stakeholders as it designs the scheme and process for assessing claims. Further details of the scheme will be announced in due course.
From: Post Office (Horizon) Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, February 2026 (data file)
Published evidence
Published findings referenced by inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether the finding is independent or government self-reported. Each finding is this site's summary of what the source found, with a link to the source; this site does not add its own progress rating.
Summary by this site of the published finding
HC 1598 welcomed the creation of a family redress scheme but urged the government to broaden the definition of "close family member" beyond spouses and children to include parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews who can demonstrate adverse consequences of the scandal.
View detailed findings
Business and Trade Committee HC 1598 (13 March 2026) examined redress delivery one year on. Key findings: £1.44bn paid to 11,300+ claimants but thousands still waiting. HSS takes 143 days average for fixed-sum offers (target: 30 days) and 450 days for assessed claims (target: 180 days). Total redress bill now approximately £2bn. Fujitsu has contributed nothing. Committee made 29 formal conclusions and recommendations across redress schemes, quashed convictions, Fujitsu contribution, and pre-Horizon (Capture) IT system concerns.
Summary by this site of the published finding
Business and Trade Select Committee heard evidence on redress for close family members of postmasters. DBT committed to establishing a new scheme for family members who suffered personal injury including mental health impacts, though the scheme was not yet operational as of January 2026.
View detailed findings
Business and Trade Committee held an evidence session on 6 January 2026 with witnesses from Fujitsu, the CCRC, DBT and MoJ. The CCRC revealed Horizon software may have been installed earlier than previously believed, potentially expanding the pool of eligible convictions. Over 4,000 claimants were still awaiting final settlement across all schemes at that date. Government accepted only 3 of 17 committee recommendations in full.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Department for Business and Trade
Response, delivery statement - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement