The four Infected Blood Support Schemes (IBSS) — in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — are closing. Responsibility for support payments will transfer to IBCA between January 2027 and March 2027.
Who the change affects
This change affects infected people and bereaved partners currently registered with a support scheme and receiving support payments from that scheme, whether they:
- have registered intent to claim compensation with IBCA
- have not registered intent to claim compensation with IBCA
- are in the process of claiming compensation with IBCA
- accepted a compensation offer from IBCA and chose the ‘adjusted’ payment route
- fall into more than one category
How the change might affect you
There will be no gap in your support, and you do not need to do anything. IBCA will take over your payments directly from your current scheme, and they will continue without interruption. Your usual payment date will remain the same.
IBCA has been working closely with all four IBSS organisations to plan this transition carefully. Our priority is to make this change as smooth as possible for you, and support you throughout.
We will write to you ahead of your transition date to:
- provide your IBCA reference number
- confirm your payment schedule
- detail the services available to you
- explain how you can contact us
If you accepted a compensation offer from IBCA and chose the ‘adjusted’ payment route, then your IBCA reference number will remain the same.
When the change is taking place
Responsibility for making support payments will transfer from the IBSS to IBCA on the following dates:
- Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme: 15 January 2027
- Scotland Infected Blood Support Scheme: 1 February 2027
- Infected Blood Payment Scheme for Northern Ireland: 1 February 2027
- England Infected Blood Support Scheme: 23 March 2027
Your final IBSS payment dates and first IBCA payment dates are shown in the table below. Where dates would have fallen on a weekend, they have been brought forward to the previous working day.
| Scheme | Recipients | Final IBSS payment | First IBCA payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales (WIBSS) | All | 18 December 2026 | 20 January 2027 |
| Northern Ireland (IBPS NI) | All | 15 January 2027 | 15 February 2027 |
| Scotland (SIBSS) | All | 15 January 2027 | 15 February 2027 |
| England (EIBSS) | People whose current payment date is the 1st | 1 March 2027 | 1 April 2027 |
| England (EIBSS) | People whose current payment date is the 15th | 15 March 2027 | 15 April 2027 |
| England (EIBSS) | People whose current payment date is the 20th | 19 March 2027 | 20 April 2027 |
| England (EIBSS) | People whose current payment date is the 27th | 19 March 2027 | 27 April 2027 |
If you usually receive your EIBSS payment on the 27th, you will receive your final payment on 19 March 2027. This is because responsibility for payments transfers to IBCA on 23 March 2027. Your payments will return to the 27th from April 2027.
Who to contact if you have questions
Your IBSS will continue to manage your payments for now. You can contact them directly with any questions you have.
All schemes will transfer to IBCA in 2027, and we will write to you before then to explain what this means for you and any next steps, so you know what to expect.
You can also call and speak to one of the IBCA team on 0141 726 2397. Lines are open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
About the schemes
The IBSS are four nation-specific organisations established to provide regular financial payments and support for people infected with Hepatitis C and/or HIV, and to their bereaved partners and families.
The four schemes operating across the UK are:
- England Infected Blood Support Scheme (EIBSS)
- Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS)
- Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme (WIBSS)
- Infected Blood Payment Scheme Northern Ireland (IBPS NI)
Following recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry, the schemes closed to new applications from infected people at the end of March 2025. They will close to bereaved partners on 30 October 2026.
More information and guidance
We are still designing this process to make the transfer as smooth as possible. This will be the first place where we add more guidance and information as it becomes available.
We’ll write to you directly if you’re affected by the transfer.
We also let the community know about any updates through our community channels and social media. You can sign up to receive our community newsletters using the link below.