Third infected blood compensation scheme regulations come into law
Earlier today (31 December 2025) the third infected blood compensation scheme regulations proposed by the Cabinet Office back in October came into law. These regulations will amend the March 2025 regulations and implement five recommendations from the Inquiry’s Additional Report, which are:
- removal of the HIV start date (recommendation 3a)
- removal of the minimum earnings threshold for a person to claim the exceptional financial loss award (recommendation 4c)
- changes to the deeming provisions for the severity of Hepatitis C (recommendation 4d)
- changes to affected estates (recommendation 8b)
- date of diagnosis for Hepatitis B and C no longer has to be provided when applying for the scheme (recommendation 4e).
To read an update from the Government regarding the latest regulations, please visit GOV.UK.
Now these regulations have become law, IBCA is working to put them in place for our compensation service. We’ll do this as quickly as we can, and provide updates when we have more details.
We will also review claims which have already been paid. If the latest regulations mean someone is entitled to more compensation, we’ll contact them. If you think this applies to you, you do not need to do anything at this point.
As for the other recommendations made in the Additional Report from the Infected Blood Inquiry, the government is still consulting on further proposed changes.
The government consultation is seeking views on the following seven areas of the Scheme:
- The ‘Special Category Mechanism’ (SCM)
- Recognition of severe psychological harm
- Impacts of interferon
- Past financial loss and care for those receiving support scheme payments
- Supplementary route - exceptional loss award
- Supplementary route - affected people
- Unethical research awards
This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 22 January 2026. To participate, please use the Cabinet Office survey.