Thousands of people affected by the Home Office Windrush scandal
will see greater compensation and claims processed quicker, under
reforms taking effect today.
Claimants who challenge their compensation decision will no
longer face lengthy waits with nothing. They can now receive up
to three-quarters of their expected final award while their
review is being completed.
Until now, victims have been unable to claim
for the direct financial impact of being unable to pay into
workplace or personal pensions during years of being prevented
from working. This changes today, with both workplace and
personal pension losses now eligible for compensation.
Some Windrush generation members were forced to drain their
retirement savings when they lost their jobs, or could not
access public services. These withdrawals will now also qualify
for redress.
Older and more vulnerable claimants will benefit from a new
priority allocation system. Claims from anyone aged 75 or over
will be prioritised. This is in addition to the existing
prioritisation given to those living with a serious health
condition, ensuring that every victim receives justice.
All immigration fees paid by people unable to prove their status
will also be refunded. The scheme will reflect wage inflation and
the difficulty of returning to work after prolonged
unemployment.
All improvements apply retrospectively, benefiting existing
claimants as well as new applicants.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship said:
The Windrush scandal remains one of the most shameful events in
this country's recent history. British citizens who had built
their lives here and contributed to our communities were wrongly
treated as though they had no right to be in their own
home.
Reforms which come into force today will mean greater and faster
compensation for victims, ensuring that people who suffered
financial and emotional hardship through no fault of their own
finally receive proper redress.
I am determined to right the wrongs of the past, and I urge
eligible people to submit a claim today. I will not rest until
every person affected by this scandal receives the justice they
deserve.
The changes respond to recommendations from the Windrush
Commissioner, Reverend Clive Foster, and address long-standing
concerns from the Windrush community about excessive bureaucracy
delaying them from receiving deserved compensation.
Windrush Commissioner Reverend Clive Foster MBE said:
I welcome these changes, which respond to recommendations I made
after listening to those affected by the Home Office Windrush
scandal and their experiences with the compensation scheme.
The introduction of advance compensation payments at the review
stage, and compensation for financial losses, tackles issues I
have consistently raised on behalf of survivors. It means people
will receive more money, faster, reflecting the hardships they've
endured. Prioritising older claimants will also help deliver
decisions sooner for those who sadly do not have time on their
side.
What matters most now is that these changes are implemented
effectively and make a real difference for claimants. I will
continue working closely with the department to press for further
improvements, so the scheme delivers fairness, dignity, and
justice for the people it was designed to serve.
This week the government announced £600,000 has been made
availableunder the second year of the 3-year £1.5million
Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund (WCASF), which
launched last April. Community organisations will be given
funding to provide dedicated support for victims through the
compensation process.
To date, the scheme has offered £128 million
to 3,842 claimants, with over 94% of cases now
concluded.
