Infected Blood Compensation Scheme overview: Bereaved partners of infected people (HTML)
This document summarises key information about the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme (the Scheme) relevant to bereaved partners of infected people who have suffered the impacts of infected blood through their relationship with an infected person. This should be read in conjunction with the Scheme Explainer.
| Category of Award | Core route awards | Supplementary route awards available? |
|---|---|---|
| Injury | £34,000- £86,000 For partners who were bereaved before 14 April 2026, or those who are already on an Infected Blood Support Scheme (IBSS), the core Injury award is 50% higher. |
No |
| Social Impact | £12,000 | No |
| Autonomy | £16,000 | No |
| Care | Not available for affected people in their own right Care awards can be paid directly to affected people on the request of an infected person or their estate representative |
No |
| Financial Loss | Available if the applicant was the partner of the infected person at their time of death and their deceased partner had not received compensation from IBCA whilst living. £16,682 per year (£8,341 per annum where the infected person would have been 66 or older) |
No |
What is the eligibility criteria for bereaved partners of a deceased infected person?
Bereaved partners of deceased infected people include:
- spouses;
- civil partners;
- partners who cohabited with an eligible infected person for at least one year following infection.
Where an eligible infected person had more than one partner during the course of their infection, all partners who meet the above definition will be eligible for compensation in their own right.
Partners who separated from the eligible infected person prior to infection will not be eligible for compensation.
All bereaved partners who are beneficiaries of an IBSS or Alliance House Organisations (AHO) scheme will automatically be considered eligible for the Scheme. Beneficiaries of an IBSS or AHO scheme may be required to provide some additional information in order for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) to determine their compensation award.
Will Support Scheme payments to bereaved partners of a deceased infected person have an impact on awards made through the Scheme?
- Bereaved partners who were registered with IBSS before 1 April 2025 will be able to continue to receive Support Scheme payments for life if they choose to do so.
- If an infected person dies after 1 April 2025 and before receiving compensation from IBCA, their bereaved partner can still register for IBSS and choose to receive Support Scheme payments for life if they wish.
- Any Support Scheme or discretionary payments made on or after 1 April 2025 will be taken into account when IBCA calculates the compensation awards relating to a person’s future financial loss and care costs.
- Unlike infected people, if a bereaved partner chooses to continue receiving Support Scheme payments, they are not eligible for a “top up” award if the Scheme’s core calculations happen to be higher than their projected lifetime support payments.
What supplementary awards are available to bereaved partners of a deceased infected person?
Bereaved partners are not eligible for awards through the supplementary route in their own right. If, however, the bereaved partner is also the personal representative of their late partner’s estate, they may be able to apply for the supplementary awards available to an infected person through the estate claim.
How is compensation awarded to bereaved partners managed?
- Claimants can choose to receive their compensation through a lump sum or series of regular payments (instalments) over 5, 10 or 25 years. After receiving compensation, a bereaved partner can choose to switch from their Support Scheme payments to a core award, and from periodic payments to a lump sum, if they wish to.
- Compensation received through instalments will be uplifted each year in line with CPI.
- Compensation will not adversely impact means tested benefits, nor will it be subject to income, capital gains and inheritance tax.
- People who receive compensation on or after 4 December 2025 are granted a two-year window from the date of receipt to gift some or all of their award to another person without triggering inheritance tax.
What next?
- The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) webpage is updated with the latest information about the Scheme, including how to apply.
- Information about interim compensation payments is available.
- Information on registering for existing Support Schemes is available.
Case studies for bereaved partners
This document contains case studies to help people understand how compensation awards are calculated for people through the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. The case studies are example scenarios. The names, dates of birth and other clinical details are fictitious and have been created to show how the Scheme works. Figures are approximate and have been rounded for simplicity. Fuller versions of the case studies can be found in the Case Study Explainer.
Case study 9: Application by an affected person widowed after the death of spouse from HIV and Hepatitis C, who is also the personal representative of their spouse’s estate.
Karin’s husband, Paul, died after being infected during a blood transfusion with HIV and Hepatitis C during an NHS hospital procedure. Paul was diagnosed with HIV in 1986 and Hepatitis C in 1993. Paul was registered with one of the former Alliance House Organisations.
As a bereaved partner, Karin currently receives support payments from an Infected Blood Support Scheme (IBSS). Karin has already received an interim compensation payment of £100,000 as a bereaved partner. Karin is eligible for compensation through the Scheme as an affected person.
As the personal representative and sole beneficiary of Paul’s estate, Karin will also receive compensation which is awarded through her husband’s estate.
Summary of Karin’s application as a bereaved partner:
Paul’s date of birth: 4 April 1950.
Date of treatment which led to Paul’s infection: 6 September 1984.
Date of Paul’s first diagnosis (HIV): 17 June 1986.
Date of Paul’s death: 23 November 1998.
Paul’s infection severity band: HIV and Level 3 Hepatitis coinfection
Compensation award to Karin as an affected partner:
| Category of award | Value of award | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Injury | £129,000 | Award for affected partner where infected person had an HIV co-infection, with 50% increase for bereaved partners. |
| Social Impact | £12,000 | Award for affected partner where infected person had HIV co-infection. |
| Autonomy | £16,000 | Award for affected partner where infected person had HIV co-infection. |
| Past Financial Loss | £437,902.50 | 26 years and three months of partner dependency payments. |
| Care | N/A | Affected people are not eligible for the Care award. |
| Interim Payments (deduction) | -£100,000 | Interim payment of £100,000 received by the bereaved partner. |
| Total (Not including support scheme payments) | £494,902.50 | This is the amount Karin will receive as either a lump sum or a periodic payment |
| Support scheme payments | £42,308.50 per year | This is the 2025/26 rate, uprated for CPI every year. This includes winter fuel payment (£670). Karin will receive these payments for life. |
Compensation award to Paul’s estate:
| Category of award | Value of award | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Injury | £240,000 | Award for HIV co-infection. |
| Social Impact | £70,000 | Award for HIV co-infection. |
| Autonomy | £70,000 | Award for HIV co-infection. |
| Financial Loss | £442,527 | 2 years of financial loss at pre-diagnosis rate, and 13 years at post-diagnosis rate, plus £12,500 flat rate award for miscellaneous costs. |
| Care | £472,962.47 | 15 years of care for HIV at past care rate (i.e. current commercial rate minus 25%). |
| Total award | £1,295,489.47 |
Case study 10: Application by a bereaved partner after the death of an infected partner from Hepatitis B
Christian’s partner, Max, was infected with Hepatitis B in 1971 following a blood transfusion after a major road traffic accident. He developed a chronic infection and died from liver cancer in 1986.
As the bereaved partner of an infected person, Christian is eligible for compensation as an affected person. Christian does not qualify for support payments through an existing Infected Blood Support Scheme.
As the personal representative and sole beneficiary of Max’s estate, Christian will also receive compensation awarded through his partner’s estate.
Summary of Christian’s application
Max’s date of birth: 19 August 1941
Date of treatment which led to Max’s infection: 10 February 1971
Date of Max’s death: 2 October 1986
Max’s infection severity band: Level 4 Hepatitis - Hepatitis B, causing liver cancer
Max’s healthy life expectancy: 85
Compensation award to Christian as an affected partner:
| Category of award | Value of award | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Injury | £129,000 | Award for affected partner of infected person with Level 4 Hepatitis, with 50% increase for bereaved partners. |
| Social Impact | £12,000 | Award for affected partner of infected person with Level 4 Hepatitis. |
| Autonomy | £16,000 | Award for partner of infected person with Level 4 Hepatitis. |
| Financial Loss | £485,863.25 | 38.25 years of partner dependency payments. |
| Care | £0 | Affected people are not eligible for the Care award. |
| Total award | £642,863.25 |
Compensation award due to Max’s estate:
| Category of award | Value of compensation award | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Injury | £180,000 | Award for Level 4 Hepatitis |
| Social Impact | £50,000 | Award for Level 4 Hepatitis |
| Autonomy | £50,000 | Award for Level 4 Hepatitis |
| Financial Loss | £344,662 | 16 years of financial loss, plus a flat rate award of £12,500 for miscellaneous costs. |
| Care | £318,683.81 | 16 years of care for Level 4 Hepatitis, calculated at past care rate (i.e. 2024 commercial care rate minus 25%). |
| Total award for Max’s estate | £943,345.81 |