Vaccine Damage Payment: How to claim

The Vaccine Damage Payment is a one-off payment of £120,000 for those who have a severe disability that was directly caused by a vaccine.

The Vaccine Damage Payment has existed since 1979 and is not a new response to any concerns about the Astra-Zeneca jab, but vaccines for Covid-19 are on the list of eligible inoculations.

Who is eligible for the Vaccine Damage Payment?

People who were left severely disabled directly because of a vaccination may be eligible for the Vaccine Damage Payment. In this case, ‘severely disabled’ means at least 60%, either mentally, physically or a combination of both. 

You must be able to provide evidence that:

• You are at least 60% disabled. This evidence should come from doctors or hospitals that treated you
• You were vaccinated in the UK or the Isle of Mann (or it was part of your armed forces medical treatment)

And evidence that this disablement was directly caused by one of the following vaccines, either given to you or to your mother when she was pregnant with you (including combination vaccines such as MMR):

• Vaccines before your 18th birthday including:
  • Diphtheria
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B
  • Influenza, unless the influenza is caused by a pandemic influenza virus
  • Measles
  • Meningitis (meningococcal groups B)
  • Mumps
  • Pneumococcal infection
  • Rotavirus
  • Smallpox (if received before 1 August 1971)
  • Tetanus
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Meningitis (meningococcal group W) if received before your 26th birthday
• Vaccines received at any time for:
  • Covid-19
  • Human papillomavirus
  • Meningitis (meningococcal groups C)
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Pandemic influenza A (H1N1), swine flu vaccine (received before 31 August 2010)
  • Rubella

You may also be eligible if you can provide evidence that you have had close physical contact with someone who was orally vaccinated against poliomyelitis, and this caused your severe disablement.

How is the Vaccine Damage Payment paid?

The payment of £120,000 is tax-free and paid in one go.

For adults receiving the payment, it will be paid directly to them.

If a child is receiving the payment, either because they received a vaccine or their mother did when pregnant with them, resulting in severe disability, the payment will be made to appointed trustees.

Will the Vaccine Damage Payment affect my benefits?

Receiving the Vaccine Damage Payment can affect how much you can receive for the following benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Income support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction

If the office that deals with your benefits is not already aware of your receiving the Vaccine Damage Payment, you must declare it to them.

How can I claim the Vaccine Damage Payment?

There are time limits to be aware of when making a claim. These are:

• You can only claim for a child on or after their 2nd birthday
• You can only claim for an adult before or on their 21st birthday or within 6 years of vaccination, whichever is latest
• If you are claiming for someone who is deceased, you can only claim on or before what would have been their 21st birthday, or within 6 years of their vaccination, whichever is latest

If you are 16 or over, you should apply in your own name; if you are under 16, a parent or guardian should apply on your behalf.

You can apply by filling in a printable claim form, or you can request a paper claim form.

You can access the printable claim form here.

To request a paper claim form to be sent to you, contact the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit via the following:

• Telephone: 01772 899 944
• Textphone: 0800 731 0317

They are open Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5pm, or Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. An accessible version is available through Relay UK, by calling 18001, then 01722 899 944.

Once you have completed your printed form or the one you received in the post, post it to:

Vaccine Damage Payments Unit
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
Preston
PR1 1HB

Your claim will be assessed and you will be informed of the decision, whether or not you have been successful.

Can I appeal a denied claim?

If you are unhappy with the decision made, you can request a review, called a ‘mandatory reversal’. 

If the decision you are appealing was made on or before 27 October 2013, you can contact the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit on the telephone number or textphone above.

If the decision was made after 27 October 2013, you’ll need to write to the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit at the above address. In your letter you must explain why you think the decision was wrong and provide any new evidence to support your application.

You can ask for a mandatory reversal an unlimited number of times, or contact the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal by filling in this form. This option allows you to choose to go to a tribunal hearing where you will present evidence for your case, alongside doctors, and a judge will make the final decision.