Documents you need to claim for someone who has died
To make a claim or receive payments for someone who has died we need to check you are legally entitled to act as the personal representative of the deceased person's estate.
You'll need a valid grant of probate or letters of administration to make a claim with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
In Scotland, the equivalent document is a grant of confirmation.
If you do not already have a grant of probate or equivalent, you should apply for this as soon as possible.
Find out more about how to apply for probate (GOV.UK)
If you've applied in England or Wales you should also email the Probate Service (HMCTS) at their dedicated infected blood inbox with the following information:
- your probate application case reference number
- full name of the person who died
- their date of death
This will inform HMCTS that your probate application is connected to a claim for infected blood compensation.
The email address for infected blood related cases at HMCTS is probateinfectedbloodscheme@justice.gov.uk
As part of your probate application, you'll need to estimate the value of the estate. HMRC guidance will explain whether you need to report the full details of the estate.
Find out how to value an estate (GOV.UK)
In Scotland only, as part of your confirmation for the estate, you will need to declare the remaining award of compensation due as part of the inventory.
Find out more about declaring inventory in Scotland (GOV.UK)
If someone dies after accepting an offer, or during the term of payment
If someone dies after they have accepted an offer of compensation, or when we've already started making payments, IBCA will pay any remaining compensation to the personal representative of the estate.
To receive these compensation payments, you'll need a grant of probate or equivalent.
If the deceased infected person had not claimed or had not received an offer of compensation
If the deceased infected person was not able to start their claim before they died, or did not complete the process, you will be able to claim as a representative of their estate.
You can register your intent to claim compensation. You'll be asked to confirm that you have, or will be able to get, a grant of probate or equivalent.
If you do not already have a grant of probate or equivalent, you should apply for this as soon as possible.