Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme UK 2026 — What to Know

The NHSBSA administers the VDPS for claims involving Covid-19 vaccination.

On 17 April 2026, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry published its Module 4 report on vaccines and therapeutics. Baroness Hallett, chairing the Inquiry, confirmed that the national Covid vaccination programme was a public health success overall — it saved a great many lives.

In the same report, she acknowledged a harder truth: a smaller number of people were seriously injured or died as a result of vaccine side effects, and the system the UK has for compensating them — the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme — is, in her words, in need of reform. This piece lays out, as clearly as possible, what the scheme does, how it’s been criticised, how to apply in 2026, and what reform might bring.

What the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme actually is

The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) is a long-running UK government programme that provides financial support to people severely disabled as a result of a vaccination. For Covid-19 claims, the vaccine must have been administered in the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales), the Isle of Man, Jersey, or as part of armed-forces medical treatment. Covid-19 vaccines were added to the scheme’s scope in December 2020, soon after the UK’s rollout began.

The scheme pays a single, tax-free lump sum of £120,000. To qualify, an applicant must meet two criteria. First, they must be assessed as suffering severe disablement — legally defined as at least 60% disablement, as measured by the scheme’s own set of assessment principles. Second, on the balance of probability, there must be a causal link between the specific vaccine received and the claimed disability. This isn’t the “beyond reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal law — it’s the civil “more likely than not” test, which still requires real evidence but applies a more reachable threshold. The scheme is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and sits separately from the rest of the NHS, and separately from the disability benefits system.

Who’s been paid so far — the 246 Covid-related awards

As of 31 December 2025, 246 awards had been made under the VDPS for claims linked to Covid-19 vaccination. That number needs context. The UK’s Covid vaccination programme was one of the largest public health operations in the country’s history, with around 150 million doses administered across the four nations.

The relatively small number of successful claims, against that scale of programme, reflects a deliberately narrow eligibility bar rather than a hidden story. The 60% disablement threshold is high — it’s a legal test, not a medical one, and many claimants with significant but not “severe” disabilities will fall outside it. Establishing the causal link on the balance of probability, given how many other variables can affect human health, is also a real evidential task. For those who have received the payment, it’s intended as acknowledgement of the scale of the injury and a degree of financial stability. It isn’t a recurring care package, and it doesn’t replace any disability benefits the person may also qualify for.

The 17 April 2026 Covid Inquiry report — what Baroness Hallett actually said

The publication of Module 4 was a pivotal moment for vaccine-injured claimants and their families. The findings were measured rather than one-sided. Baroness Hallett reaffirmed the scientific consensus — the Covid vaccination programme prevented severe disease at population scale and saved many lives. The report also gave significant weight to the testimony of people for whom the vaccines caused harm.

The Inquiry heard extensive evidence from vaccine-injured individuals and bereaved families. It documented a consistent pattern of diagnosis delays — patients describing how symptoms were dismissed or not connected to vaccination. It highlighted gaps in long-term clinical support and rehabilitation for people with recognised vaccine-related conditions, including specific blood-clotting disorders and cases of heart inflammation. And it named the VDPS as the central failure point in the UK’s response to individual vaccine injury. Baroness Hallett’s language was direct: the scheme “requires reform.” She described it as outdated, failing to provide adequate support in a timely manner, and creating obstacles for people seeking redress. The report set out how the scheme’s rigid criteria and slow process had added to the distress of people already dealing with severe health issues.

The Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Payments Bill — what reform might look like

Two related pieces of legislation have been introduced in Parliament — the Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Payments Bill (Bill 3817) and a companion bill (Bill 3852). Between them, the central proposal is to place a legal duty on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to report to Parliament on the merits of setting up a no-fault compensation scheme for Covid-19 vaccine injuries.

A no-fault scheme would be a meaningful shift in approach. Unlike the current VDPS, it wouldn’t require claimants to prove on the balance of probability that a specific vaccine caused their disability. Instead, it would typically use a lower threshold, such as showing that the vaccine was a “material contributing factor” in the injury. Comparative research by the Oxford Faculty of Law, which has looked at no-fault vaccine compensation schemes in other countries, suggests such schemes tend to produce faster payouts, broader eligibility, and a less adversarial process. The bills, as drafted, do not themselves create a no-fault scheme — they force the government to formally evaluate the case for one.

Two bills in Parliament now propose evaluating a no-fault compensation scheme for Covid-19 vaccine injuries.

How to claim in 2026 — the step-by-step

If you think you or a family member may meet the VDPS criteria, the application process is run entirely by the NHSBSA. The most direct route is the official online portal at apply-vaccine-damage-payment.nhsbsa.nhs.uk. A paper claim form is also available to download and return by post if that’s easier. The application will ask for specific information — here’s what you’ll need to know at each stage.

What to do if your claim has been rejected or delayed

A rejection isn’t the end of the line. You have the right to ask the NHSBSA for a reconsideration of the decision. Start by reading the rejection letter carefully — it should set out the reason. In most cases, rejection relates either to the 60% disablement threshold not being met or to a finding that the causal link hasn’t been established on the balance of probability.

At the reconsideration stage, additional medical evidence is usually what moves the dial. Ask your GP or specialists for reports that explicitly address the link between the vaccine and your condition. If the reconsideration decision is still negative, the next legal step is an appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) — a formal legal route that handles administrative law cases like this one.

You don’t have to do any of this alone. Specialist law firms such as Leigh Day have represented VDPS claimants and may offer initial advice on a pro bono or no-win-no-fee basis. Patient support groups — notably Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK (VIBUK) and CoverMidUK — can provide peer support, practical guidance on the application process, and help you understand the medical language and legal thresholds from people who’ve been through it.

What this means if you’re considering a claim and you’re unsure whether to

If you’re weighing up whether to apply, a few practical considerations are worth taking in. There is no absolute time limit for submitting a VDPS claim, but applying earlier tends to be easier — medical records from the period around your vaccination are more readily available, and your memory of the chronology is sharper. Applying later is still possible, but expect more record-gathering work.

The emotional and psychological weight of a suspected vaccine injury is significant — this is a recognised trauma pathway. Your GP can refer you to NHS Talking Therapies (the service formerly called IAPT) for support with anxiety, depression, or PTSD stemming from your experience. Patient advocacy groups can reduce feelings of isolation and make the process feel less opaque. For those who have lost a family member, bereavement charities — Cruse Bereavement Support is the largest — can provide counselling, and the patient groups above can help you work out whether a claim is possible from a bereavement standpoint, which has its own set of rules under the VDPS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Published: 24 April 2026 · Last updated: 24 April 2026