UPDATE
Deadline for new applications to The Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme
The four UK-wide Infected Blood Support Schemes will close to new applications on 31 March 2025, as part of transitional arrangements with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).
This applies to new applications only. The schemes will remain open beyond this date for those already registered. Existing scheme members will continue to receive regular support payments and be able to contact the schemes as normal. You do not need to take any action.
Responsibility for support payments will transfer to IBCA in the future, on a date yet to be determined – we will update you once this has been confirmed.
We are working with IBCA, the UK Government and Devolved Administrations to make this transition as smooth as possible.
If you are not yet registered with a support scheme but believe you are eligible, act as soon as possible and before 31 March 2025.
If an existing scheme member dies between 1 January and 31 March 2025, their estate will have three months from date of death to apply for a lump sum payment.
Newly-bereaved partners of existing scheme members who die between 1 January and 31 March 2025 will also have three months from date of death to apply for support payments.
New applicants should apply to the scheme in the UK nation in which the person was infected. If you are a bereaved partner this is where your partner was infected.
More information on how to apply to WIBSS can be found here https://wibss.wales.nhs.uk/apply/
Everyone registered with a support scheme will automatically be eligible for compensation via the infected blood compensation scheme, to be delivered by IBCA.
Interim Estates Payment
Applications for interim payments to estates opened on 24 October. These applications will be processed by the Infected Blood Support Schemes.
Guidance on how to apply, the eligibility criteria and the application process is available at: www.gov.uk/infected-blood-compensation-estates
Please click here for Infected Blood Compensation Authority information
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.