Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme: the £120,000 payment and an eligibility checker
Last updated · By Mustafa Bilgic · Rules from the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 and the orders made under it, checked against GOV.UK
This page lists every vaccine the scheme covers with its age and date conditions, explains what counts as severe disablement and how the time limit works, and sets out how to claim and challenge a decision. The checker applies the conditions in sections 1 to 3 of the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 and the orders that added diseases to the scheme.
Vaccines covered and the age and date rules
You may get a payment if the disability was caused by vaccination against any of the diseases below, including a combined vaccine such as DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) or MMR. The age condition applies to the person who was vaccinated. An outbreak means an outbreak of the disease in the UK or the Isle of Man.
| Vaccination against | Age at vaccination | Vaccination date |
|---|---|---|
| Coronavirus (COVID-19) | No age condition | From 5 July 1948 |
| Diphtheria | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 5 July 1948 |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 5 July 1948 |
| Human papillomavirus | No age condition | From 5 July 1948 |
| Influenza, except for influenza caused by a pandemic influenza virus | No age condition | From 1 September 2013 (under 18) or 24 May 2015 (18 or over) |
| Measles | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 5 July 1948 |
| Meningococcal group B (meningitis B) | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 1 September 2015 |
| Meningococcal group C (meningitis C) | No age condition | From 5 July 1948 |
| Meningococcal group W (meningitis W) | Under 26, or during an outbreak | From 1 August 2015 |
| Mumps | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 5 July 1948 |
| Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (swine flu) | No age condition | Before 1 September 2010 |
| Pertussis (whooping cough) | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 5 July 1948 |
| Pneumococcal infection | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 5 July 1948 |
| Poliomyelitis | No age condition | From 5 July 1948 |
| Rotavirus | Under 18 (no outbreak exception) | From 1 July 2013 |
| Rubella (German measles) | No age condition | From 5 July 1948 |
| Smallpox | Under 18, or during an outbreak | Before 1 August 1971 |
| Tetanus | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 5 July 1948 |
| Tuberculosis (TB) | Under 18, or during an outbreak | From 5 July 1948 |
Vaccine Damage Payment checker
Tests each condition in the Act
What severely disabled means
Section 1(4) of the Act says a person is severely disabled if their disablement is assessed at 60% or more, assessed in the same way as for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit under section 103 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. GOV.UK says it can be a mental or physical disablement and is based on medical evidence from the doctors or hospitals involved in the treatment. Our page on Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit rates explains how those percentages are assessed.
The scheme also has to be satisfied that the vaccination caused the disability. Section 3(5) of the Act says that question is decided on the balance of probability. The payment can also be made where the disability came from a vaccination given to the mother before birth, or from close contact with someone who had an oral polio vaccine.
Time limits and who can claim
- Children. You can only claim for a child once they are 2 years old. A parent or guardian can claim for a child under 16.
- Deadline. The claim must be made by the later of the 21st birthday (or the date the person would have turned 21, if they have died) and the end of 6 years from the vaccination.
- On someone else's behalf. You can also claim for someone who cannot manage their own affairs if you act as their representative, or for someone who has died if you manage their estate.
- Which amount. The payment is the statutory sum in force when the claim is first made. The 2007 order raised it from £100,000 to £120,000 for claims made on or after 12 July 2007.
How the payment is made
The payment is made directly to the disabled person if they are over 18 and can manage their own affairs. If they are under 18 or cannot manage their own affairs, it is paid to trustees, and parents can be appointed as trustees if the person lives with them. GOV.UK says Vaccine Damage Payments are not a compensation scheme: you can still take legal action to claim compensation, even if you get a payment.
How to claim and challenge a decision
You can apply online on the NHSBSA website or fill in and post a paper form. You do not need a legal representative, such as a solicitor. The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme can be contacted at [email protected] or on 0300 330 0013, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.
If you disagree with a decision made after 27 October 2013, write to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme to ask for a mandatory reversal, explaining why the decision is wrong and including any new evidence. There is no limit on the number of times you can ask and no time limit. You can also appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal using form SSCS7, again with no time limit. GOV.UK says an appeal usually takes around 6 months to be heard.
If you are claiming for someone who has died, you might also be able to get a Bereavement Support Payment. For a vaccine injury in a child, see also our guide to claiming compensation for a child.
Sources and methodology
The amount was read from the 2007 Statutory Sum Order and the GOV.UK guide. Each disease, age rule and date rule was read from the Act or the order that added it, and checked against the GOV.UK list. The checker was tested against each of those rules.
- Vaccine Damage Payment guide, on GOV.UK.
- Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979, sections 1 to 3, on legislation.gov.uk.
- The Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 Statutory Sum Order 2007, S.I. 2007/1931, on legislation.gov.uk.
- The Vaccine Damage Payments (Specified Disease) Orders of 1990, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2020, the 2010 revocation order and the 2021 amendment order, on legislation.gov.uk.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Vaccine Damage Payment?
£120,000, paid once and tax-free. The 2007 order set this amount for claims made on or after 12 July 2007, and the amount paid is the one in force when the claim is first made.
Can I claim a Vaccine Damage Payment for a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes. COVID-19 was added to the scheme from 31 December 2020, and the age condition does not apply to it. You must be at least 60% disabled because of the vaccination and claim by the later of your 21st birthday and 6 years after the vaccination.
What does 60% disabled mean for a Vaccine Damage Payment?
Severe disablement means disablement assessed at 60% or more, worked out as for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. It can be mental or physical and is based on medical evidence from the doctors or hospitals involved in the treatment.
What is the time limit for a Vaccine Damage Payment claim?
You must claim by the later of the 21st birthday (or the date the person would have turned 21) and the end of 6 years from the vaccination. A claim for a child can only be made once they are 2 years old.
Does a Vaccine Damage Payment stop me suing?
No. GOV.UK says Vaccine Damage Payments are not a compensation scheme, and you can still take legal action to claim compensation even if you get a payment.