Update – 20th May 2024
The Welsh Blood Service has developed a comprehensive FAQ on their website to support you if you have any questions or concerns on issues in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry. You can read more about the blood donation process, the tests undertaken and blood transfusion by going to this page. It will be updated regularly with the latest information and support.
Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/infected-blood-compensation-authority
Infected Blood Inquiry
The Infected Blood Inquiry Final Report was published on 20 May 2024. The full report is available online.
Publication Day | Infected Blood Inquiry
Update from the UK Government – 17th April 2024
The UK Government is working towards introducing new law to establish the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. This will not have any immediate impact on your support payments.
On the 17th April the UK Government tabled an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill that places a duty on the UK Government to establish a UK-wide Infected Blood Compensation Scheme and establishes a new arms-length body, named the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, to deliver it when the Bill becomes law. This is a significant step towards delivering compensation for victims of infected blood, with the intention of speeding up the implementation of the Government’s response to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Within that amendment, there are powers for the UK Government to transfer the Infected Blood Support Schemes across the UK into the Infected Blood Compensation Authority if they should so wish at a later date. This provides options to make best use of the vital knowledge, experience and expertise the existing support schemes have gained over the years in order to benefit beneficiaries. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, transfers can only be made with the consent of the relevant devolved authority.
Please be assured details on future compensation and any changes to how your financial support is paid, will be clearly communicated to you in advance.
We do not have further information at this time.
Clarification on tax implications of interest earned on the investment of payments and action required
Since 1988, successive governments have set up various schemes to provide financial support to individuals infected with Hepatitis C, HIV or both through NHS treatment with contaminated blood products. The longstanding position has been that such ex gratia payments should be exempt from tax.
Following the introduction of new schemes, legislation was introduced in 2017 to ensure that periodical payments to beneficiaries from those schemes were exempt from income tax, in the same way as periodical payments from existing schemes.
The exemption only extends to the periodical payments or annuities in respect of the damages. Any return from investing those sums is not exempted. Once any money received from compensation is invested any interest received on that investment will be taxable in the normal way and should be declared in tax returns and self-assessments. Independent financial advice should be sought as previously advertised.
Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme – WIBSS
Established in October 2017, the Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme (WIBSS) aims to provide support to people who have been infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV as a result of NHS treatment with blood, blood products or tissue in Wales.
WIBSS has taken over from the UK previous schemes (Eileen Trust, Macfarlane Trust, MFET Ltd, Skipton Fund and Caxton Foundation) and aims to provide both a streamlined financial payment service, a Welfare Advice Service and a Psychology and Well-being service for Welsh beneficiaries and their families.
Welsh Government provide Directions and Regulations that WIBSS follow, all Directions and Regulation amendments can be found here.
Welsh Government has notified WIBSS of the revised rates for 2024-2025. This rate will be applicable from 1st April 2024. To see the revised rates, please click here.
Please click the link to access the current Customer Satisfaction Survey Report for WIBSS.