Infected Blood Payment Scheme: financial advice and support
Information on tax and benefits relating to your payments from the Infected Blood Payment Scheme, for Northern Ireland (IBPS NI), financial services which can offer advice on managing your money and other support services available.
Payments and income tax
Information on payment rates are available from the Infected Blood Payment Scheme for NI.
If you live in the UK, income tax will not be taken from the payments you receive from the IBPS NI.
You do not need to declare the payments in any income tax return you send to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
However, any return from investing those sums is not exempt from tax.
Once any money from the IBPS NI or any interim compensation from the UK Government is invested, any interest received on that investment will be taxable in the normal way and should be declared in tax returns and self-assessments.
Benefits
Payments from IBPS NI do not count if you are getting or applying for any of the following means-tested benefits from the Department for Communities (DfC):
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- State Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit
This means that your income and any grants from the IBPS NI are not taken into account when DfC assesses your application for any of the above benefits.
However, you are still required to declare to DfC any payments that you receive from the IBPS NI.
If you don’t tell the Department for Communities about payments received from IBPS NI, they won’t be able to work out what money they should disregard.
This might mean any benefits that depend on the amount of money you have could be affected.
IBPS NI payments should be disregarded by local authorities in making assessments for social care.
If you are a beneficiary of the IBPS NI who lives in England and are getting council tax reductions, you will need to tell your local authority that you have received the payment through the IBPS NI.
Payments through the IPBS NI should be disregarded by local authorities when calculating council tax.
Discretionary support
If you are already registered with IBPS NI, you may be entitled to discretionary support, in the form of a one-off grant, to help with essential items or services and to address immediate needs.
Applications are assessed against set criteria. No one automatically qualifies for this support, including beneficiaries who receive financial support from IBPS NI.
Applications will be considered for needs that:
- have a direct effect on your independence
- have been brought about as a direct result of your infection and/ or treatment and are unable to be met
Further evidence may be required to support your application.
You must apply for support before committing to payments for any services. Any payments you make before approval may not be reimbursed.
Applications for all types of discretionary support can be sent at any time should a beneficiary’s circumstances change.
Normally, discretionary support payments will only be backdated to the date the application was received.
Types of discretionary payments
Types of discretionary payments include:
- accommodation adaptations
- accommodation repairs
- dental costs
- funeral pre-payment plan
- funeral costs reimbursement
- hospital travel costs
- mobility aids
- motability deposits
- respite break
- specialist bed and or mattress
Psychological support
Being infected with hepatitis C or HIV from NHS-supplied blood or blood products may have affected you and your family members in different ways. This may include having an impact on your psychological wellbeing or mental health.
Support is available from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
If you get queries about your income from the IBPS NI
If you get any queries from authorities such as Department for Communities, His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or your local council (if you live in England), you need to tell them about this guidance.
If you have any problems or they ask you to go to a formal interview, you will need to let the IBPS NI know.
You will be sent a letter to confirm payments you have received from the IBPS NI and to tell the Department for Communities to disregard those payments to you.
Other financial services
There are many services which can offer advice on managing your money and finances:
Other useful information and support services
Latest editions of the Infected Blood Payment Scheme Northern Ireland (IBPS NI) newsletter, previously conducted surveys and consultations, as well as links to previous ministerial statements and press releases are available on the Department of Health website:
The Infected Blood Inquiry published its final report on 20 May 2024.
Whilst, the Inquiry has ended, you can still visit the website to view news relating to the Inquiry, including all published reports.
Haemophilia support
The Haemophilia Society is a UK-wide charity for all those affected by a genetic bleeding disorder - a community of individuals and families, healthcare professionals and supporters.
Haemophilia NI is an independent regional charity whose focus is to provide information, support and advocacy to everyone with Haemophilia, Von Willebrand and other bleeding disorders.
Families and Friends of Haemophilia, Northern Ireland is an organisation which supports people in Northern Ireland who have been affected by bleeding disorders or by contaminated blood. They have a Facebook page for anyone wanting to find out more information.
HIV support
The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) provides resources for people living with HIV and those newly diagnosed.
Positively UK provides peer-led support, advocacy and information to everyone living with HIV to effectively manage any aspect of their diagnosis, care and life with HIV.
National Aids Trust is a registered charity that champion the rights of people living with HIV and campaign for change.
Hepatitis C support
The Hepatitis C Trust is a patient-led and patient-run organisation.
Bereavement support
Cruse Bereavement Care is a national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Bereavement UK provides bereavement support and information.