Amount
£120,000, once, tax-free
This is the largest single lump sum in the UK benefits system, and it is close to invisible. It is not compensation in the legal sense and it does not require you to prove anyone was at fault — it is a no-fault payment, and you apply for it yourself.
Quick facts
- Amount
- £120,000, once, tax-free
- Threshold
- At least 60% disabled
- Solicitor needed
- No
- Child claims
- From age 2
- Where
- NHSBSA, online or by post
How much is the Vaccine Damage Payment?
£120,000, paid once. GOV.UK states it plainly: “A Vaccine Damage Payment is a one-off tax-free payment of £120,000 if you're severely disabled as a result of vaccination against certain diseases”.
It is tax free, and it is a single sum — there is no weekly element. If you live in Northern Ireland, a Vaccine Damage Payment can affect your benefits and entitlements. If your claim succeeds, you must tell the office that deals with your benefit.
What counts as severely disabled?
At least 60% disabled. In GOV.UK's words: “Disablement is worked out as a percentage, and 'severe disablement' means at least 60% disabled.”
It can be a mental or a physical disablement, and it is assessed on medical evidence from the doctors and hospitals involved in the treatment. That 60% line is the single most important number on this page, because a claim below it does not succeed no matter how genuine the harm.
Which vaccinations are covered?
The list is specific, and a vaccination outside it does not qualify:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio
- Measles, mumps, rubella
- Meningitis B, C and W
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Human papillomavirus
- Influenza, except pandemic influenza
- Pneumococcal infection
- Rotavirus
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Smallpox, up to 1 August 1971
- Swine flu (H1N1) 2009, up to 31 August 2010
The time limits that end most claims
This is where claims are lost. “You can only claim for a child once they are 2 years old.” For an adult, you must apply by whichever is the latest of: on or before their 21st birthday, or within 6 years of the vaccination.
There is also a rule about when the vaccination happened: “You must normally have been vaccinated before your 18th birthday, unless the vaccination was during an outbreak of disease in the UK or the Isle of Man”.
The age rule also does not apply to vaccination against COVID-19, polio, rubella, meningococcal group C, human papillomavirus (HPV), pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (swine flu) or influenza. For meningococcal group W, the vaccination must have been before your 26th birthday. It must have been given in the UK or the Isle of Man, unless it was part of your armed forces medical treatment.
If you are reading this and the dates are close, put the claim in. The date it is received is what protects you.
How do you apply?
Online or by post, through the NHS Business Services Authority. And the line worth repeating: “You do not need a legal representative, such as a solicitor, to apply for a Vaccine Damage Payment.”
You can also apply on behalf of someone who has died after becoming severely disabled from one of these vaccinations, if you are managing their estate.
Phone, forms and how long it takes
- Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (NHSBSA)
- 0300 330 0013
- Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (NHSBSA)
- vdps@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
- Apply online (NHS Business Services Authority)
- NHSBSA: claim online
- Paper claim form (ask NHSBSA for one)
- paper copy of the claim form
- How long a decision takes
- There is no set time. It depends on the case and how quickly medical records arrive.
- If you are refused
- You can challenge the decision by asking for a mandatory reversal.
- No time limit
- You can ask for a mandatory reversal again, as often as you like, with no time limit.
From the official pages (gov.uk, nhsbsa.nhs.uk), re-checked every night. Numbers and times can change, so check the official page before you send anything.
Common questions
How much is the Vaccine Damage Payment?
It is a one-off, tax-free payment of £120,000. GOV.UK describes it as 'a one-off tax-free payment of £120,000 if you're severely disabled as a result of vaccination against certain diseases'. There is no weekly element and it does not replace any other benefit you receive.
What does 'severely disabled' mean for this payment?
At least 60% disabled. GOV.UK states: 'Disablement is worked out as a percentage, and severe disablement means at least 60% disabled.' It can be mental or physical, and is assessed on medical evidence from the doctors and hospitals involved in the treatment.
Do I need a solicitor to claim?
No. GOV.UK is explicit: 'You do not need a legal representative, such as a solicitor, to apply for a Vaccine Damage Payment.' You apply yourself, online or by post, through the NHS Business Services Authority.
Is there a deadline for the Vaccine Damage Payment?
Yes, and it is what ends most claims. You can only claim for a child once they are 2 years old. For an adult you must apply by whichever is later: on or before their 21st birthday, or within 6 years of the vaccination.
Can I claim for someone who has died?
Yes, if you are managing their estate and they had become severely disabled as a result of one of the listed vaccinations. You may also be able to claim Bereavement Support Payment alongside it.
Does the Vaccine Damage Payment affect my other benefits?
It is a one-off tax-free lump sum rather than an income. Because it is capital, a large lump sum can affect means-tested benefits depending on your circumstances, so it is worth taking advice before it lands.