- More than £8million has now been offered
or paid since the scheme started in April 2019
- Since overhaul of the scheme in December 2020, early figures
show an extra £4.5million has now been offered
The Windrush Compensation Scheme has now offered or paid more
than £8 million – with more than half of that offered in the past
six weeks since Home Secretary overhauled the scheme.
Last month the Home Secretary implemented significant changes to
the Windrush Compensation Scheme, increasing the minimum award
under the Impact on Life category to £10,000.
Provisional figures released
today show that since 15 December 2020, a further 238 offers
have been made worth more than £4.5million. Up until the end of
November 2020, the scheme had paid or offered £3.7 million.
The changes were made in close consultation with members of the
Windrush generation, community leaders, stakeholders and the
Cross-Government Windrush Working Group co-chaired by Bishop
Derek Webley.
Home Secretary said:
“I am really pleased the changes we introduced to the scheme are
having immediate impact, with more people receiving significantly
higher payments, much more quickly.
“The figures today show real progress and we must now keep up
that momentum to help many more people get the compensation they
deserve.”
Bishop Derek Webley said:
"Although it is early days, the impact of the changes made to the
Compensation Scheme are starting to show. It is another step
forward on our collective journey to acknowledge, support and
improve the lives of those who were impacted by the Windrush
scandal."
The new minimum award of £10,000 made in the Impact on Life
category will be paid as a new early preliminary payment, as soon
as someone applying on their own behalf or on behalf of a
deceased relative, can show any impact on their life under the
terms of the scheme. They do not need to wait for their whole
application to be assessed.
Other changes announced last month include:
- Maximum payment through Impact on Life
category increases from £10,000 to £100,000 or higher in
exceptional circumstances;
- Changes to the rules in the Loss of
Access to Employment category, including removing the 12-month
cap on payments in all circumstances;
- £500,000 fund for community groups to
raise awareness of the Windrush Compensation Scheme and Windrush
Scheme.
For more information about the changes click
here.
ENDS
Case studies
- Individual A was originally offered just over £45,000 to
compensate them for loss of access to employment and impact of
life. Through the revised scheme they have now been offered over
£110,000.
- Individual B was originally offered around £10,000 to
compensate them under impact of life. Through the revised scheme
they have now been offered £100,000.
- Individual C was originally offered just under £50,000 to
compensate them under impact of life, legal fees and loss of
access to employment. Through the revised scheme they have now
been offered just under £115,000.
- Individual D was originally offered £7,000 to compensate them
under impact of life. Through the revised scheme they have now
been offered just under £70,000.
