How the compensation is worked out
You’ll have a dedicated claim manager who will help you through the process to make sure you get all the support you need.
Compensation is worked out based on categories known as ‘awards’.
Each award recognises a different part of the person’s life where infected blood has had an impact. The estate will receive a compensation amount for each award. The amount the estate gets for each award will depend on how severe the person’s infection was.
Total compensation is made up of the following awards.
Injury
Recognises the harm caused to physical or mental health or both, including emotional distress.
Social impact
Recognises the stigma or isolation the person experienced because of their infection. It is based on how much the infection has affected their social and emotional life.
Autonomy
Recognises the loss of control over personal decisions, such as being able to have children, or being treated without knowing the risks.
Changes to autonomy awards if the person was infected as a child
The fourth set of regulations for the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme became law on 24 July 2026. Under the new regulations, anyone infected at age 17 or under is entitled to more compensation.
How we calculate childhood autonomy awards
If someone was infected at age 17 or under, their Autonomy Award combines the Basic Autonomy Amount, plus a Childhood Infection Amount.
The Basic Autonomy Amount is based on the severity of the infection at the time of death. The Childhood Infection Amount is an extra payment based on the severity of the infection on the day before the person’s 18th birthday.
If you have already completed an IBCA compensation claim on behalf of an infected person who has died, and who was infected before their 18th birthday, we will pay a top up amount to the estate. You do not have to do anything. We are contacting everyone this applies to.
Care
Compensates for the years the person needed help because of their infection.
We pay care awards to infected people. A living infected person can choose to pay some or all of their care award directly to eligible affected people who provided them with care.
The affected person cannot receive a payment until the infected person’s claim is complete.
If you are representing a deceased infected person, you cannot choose to pay the care award directly to an eligible affected person from their compensation claim. We will pay the care award to the estate of the deceased infected person.
Financial loss
Compensates for the years the person lost earnings because of their infection. This includes taking care of children or work to maintain a household.