If you have become severely disabled as a result of receiving certain vaccines. You may be entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment of £120,000.
If you’re over 16, you can make a claim yourself.
You can apply on someone else’s behalf if:
- they’re under 16 and you’re their parent or guardian
- they’re not able to manage their own affairs and you act as their legal representative
- they’ve died and you manage their estate
A Vaccine Damage Payment is:
- tax free
- not treated as compensation – meaning you could still seek damages in court
A Vaccine Damage Payment can affect your benefits and entitlements.
Claim for a Vaccine Damage Payment
If you’re over 16 and making a claim on your own behalf, you can make a claim online.
The VDPS online claim form is a public beta service. This means that it's the first version of our new online claim form. It allows us to improve the digital claim process based on your feedback.
You can also download and complete a Vaccine Damage Payment claim form. There are three versions of the form that you can use to submit a claim for a Vaccine Damage Payment:
If completing a paper form, send it to us at the postal address or email address printed on the form.
These claim forms may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. To request this in a more accessible format, email us at nhsbsa.vdps@nhs.net
If you need help to make a claim, you can contact us:
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges
How we assess your claim
Your claim will be looked at by an independent, third-party medical assessor. They assess claims on a case-by-case basis.
The assessor will consider your medical records along with all available scientific evidence. They decide if you are due a Vaccine Damage Payment based on whether:
- the vaccine, on the balance of probabilities, caused the disability
- the level of disability is severe
Severely disabled means at least 60% disabled. This could be:
- physical disability
- mental disability
- a mix of physical and mental disability
The average non-coronavirus (COVID-19) related claim takes around 6 months to investigate and process from the date we receive your application. A coronavirus (COVID-19) related claim may take longer.
This timeframe can vary from case to case and we aim to progress claims as quickly as possible.
More information about the VDPS
Visit the Vaccine Damage Payment page on the GOV.UK website for more information and to:
- find out more information about the scheme
- check if you are eligible to make a claim
- find out what to do if you disagree with a decision about your claim
If you receive benefits
A Vaccine Damage Payment can affect your benefits and entitlements.
If your claim is successful and you receive benefits, you must tell the office that deals with your benefit or tax credit claim. You can get contact details from letters they have sent you.
Benefits that might be affected include:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
- Employment and Support Allowance
Other help you can get from the government
Other financial services
If you need further support, there are also services which can offer advice on managing your money and finances:
Contact us
If you need help with the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, contact us by:
Email: nhsbsa.vdps@nhs.net
Phone: 0300 330 0013
Find out about call charges
We're usually open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.
You can also write to us at:
NHS Business Services Authority
Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Unit 5
Greenfinch Way
Newburn Industrial Estate
Newburn
NE15 8NX
Privacy notice
The VDPS privacy notice explains how the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS Business Services Authority securely store data of those claiming a vaccine damage payment.
The data is used to process a claim and support the administration of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
