Infected blood payment scheme reformed

The Department of Health (DoH) has declared new reforms to the infected blood patient scheme, which include infected individuals receiving an extra £500 winter fuel payment, without the need to apply.

The reforms have been announced following a public consultation. The payment schemes are aimed at individuals who were invected with HIV and/or hepatitis C following treatment with
NHS-supplied blood products before September 1991.

The support plans have been in place since 1988, and involve various schemes to provide financial and other forms of relief to infected and affected people.

The reforms to the infected blood payment scheme include: those infected with hepatitis C at stage 1 will receive a new flat rate annual payment of £3,500, rising to £4,500 from 2018/2019.

This will not be linked to an individual assessment, as was proposed in the consultation; those with hepatitis C at stage 2 or those with HIV, their annual payments will increase to £15,500, rising to £18,500 from 2018/2019; and those co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C at stage 1 will receive £18,500, rising to £22,500 from 2018/2019.

Furthermore, those co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C at stage 2, will receive £30,500, rising to £36,500 from 2018/2019; discretionary support will continue and will be enhanced from 2018/2019; a new special appeals mechanism for those at hepatitis C stage 1 who consider that the impact of their infection on their health may mean they could qualify for stage 2 payments will be introduced from 2017/2018; continuation of a £50,000 lump sum payment for those infected with hepatitis C stage 1 who progress to stage 2; and partners/spouses at the time of death of a primary beneficiary will be entitled to a £10,000 one-off lump sum where the HIV/hepatitis C infection contributed to the death of their partner/spouse - this will apply to those already bereaved and newly bereaved.