Request a final lump sum payment

This guidance explains what to do if you currently get recurring payments but now want your remaining compensation or support scheme payments paid as a final lump sum.

Your payment options

The options you have depend on how you currently receive your payments.

If you only get payments from IBCA

If you currently get recurring payments from IBCA you can choose instead to receive all of your remaining compensation as a final lump sum payment.

If you only get payments from a support scheme

If you currently get recurring payments from a support scheme you can choose to instead receive all of your remaining payments as a final lump sum payment. This will include your future financial loss award and future care award that your support scheme payments represent. (You will have previously received an initial lump sum from IBCA when you settled your claim.) You will be deregistered from the support scheme.

If you get payments from both IBCA and a support scheme

If you currently get recurring payments from both IBCA and from a support scheme you have 3 options.

Choose for your recurring support scheme payments to be paid out as a final lump sum and deregister from the scheme. Keep your recurring payments from IBCA.
Choose for your recurring IBCA payments to be paid out as a final lump sum. Keep your recurring support scheme payments, and stay registered.
Choose for both your recurring support scheme payments and your recurring IBCA payments to be paid out as lump sums. You will be deregistered from the support scheme.

If you are unsure

If you are unsure about the payments you currently receive, you can contact us and we will explain what your options are.

If someone dies

If someone dies before they receive all of their payments, their estate will be entitled to receive the remaining payments.

Benefits and tax

Changing the way you will receive your money will not affect any means-tested benefits you receive.

All of your payments will still be exempt from Income Tax, Capital Gains and Inheritance Tax.

How to request a change

You can make your request at any time. For security reasons we will ask for some information that you provided when you originally made your claim.

1. Contact us

You can call, email or write to us at the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (IBCA) to request a change to the way your compensation is paid. You do not need to contact the support scheme separately.

Please include the following details if you email or write to us, so we can match your request to your original claim.

Your full name
Your address
Your date of birth
Your original claim reference number (if you still have it)

Please do not provide any additional personal information. We will ask for further information when we process your request.

IBCA contact details

Email: ibcaenquiries@ibca.org.uk

Postal address:

PO Box 384
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1XY

Phone: 0141 726 2397
(Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays)

2. ID and security check

A claim manager will begin to process your request. For security reasons we will ask you for some information so that we can confirm your identity.

3. Review your compensation statement

We will send you a compensation statement that shows:

your original, full compensation amount
how much compensation you have received so far
the lump sum payment you will receive if you go ahead

The final payment amount in your statement might vary at the point of payout if you receive more payments in the meantime.

4. Your decision and bank details

You have 21 days to let us know if you want to go ahead with the change. If you decide you want to go ahead after this time you might need to start the process again. This is for security reasons and because we will need to recalculate the compensation figures in your statement.

To confirm that you want to take a lump sum you must sign and return the bank details and decision forms sent with your compensation statement. You can do this by email or post.

Your decision will be final and you will not be able to change back to your previous payment approach.

5. De-registration from support scheme (where applicable)

If you have chosen to take a lump sum of your remaining support scheme payments, you will be deregistered from the support scheme. We at IBCA will manage this for you.

6. Bank details check and payment

We will carry out a bank verification check and process your payment change.

We will send you a final confirmation of the payment you have received.

Consider getting financial advice

Changing the way you receive your payments will have an impact on your immediate and future finances. This is therefore a significant decision to make. You might want to get financial advice first, if you have not done this already.

Free financial guidance

The following organisations offer general financial guidance:

MoneyHelper
Citizens Advice
Advicelocal (for other local providers)
Advice NI (if you live in Northern Ireland)

If someone is pressuring you

If anyone has put you under pressure to change the way you receive your payments please contact us to discuss the situation in confidence.