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Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS)

In the United Kingdom, the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme is for people who become severely disabled as a result of a vaccination injury. This help guide explains how to check if you qualify for the Vaccine Damage Payment, how much you could get, and how to apply.

UK Government Adds COVID-19 to VDPS

The payment for vaccination injury is a statutory scheme, meaning you do not need to prove negligence to make a claim.

In fact, it is the Welfare State in the United Kingdom that provides the provision for all the Vaccine Damage UK payments.

As a result, people (or their families) who show suffering from a vaccination injury can get a substantial one-off payment.

Important: The Vaccine Damage Payment is a single tax-free amount of £120,000 to people (or their families) who suffer severe mental or physical disablement as a result of immunisation against certain diseases (including coronavirus).

Payment for Vaccine Injury affects other Benefits

Receiving a Vaccine Damage Payment may affect other benefits and entitlements including:

The effect of the payment on your benefits is dependent on several different factors, most noticeably being the way you choose to get the money.

In simple terms, it will make a difference if you have it paid into a trust or if you start taking regular payments from the lump sum.

Note: You should inform the office that deals with your tax credit claim or benefit if you get a Vaccine Damage Payment from the scheme. Their contact information is on all correspondence letters they send out to you.

Vaccine Damage UK Payment Amount

The Vaccine Damage Payment amount is £120,000 for the 2022/23 tax year. It is a single tax free award, and in most cases, the payment goes direct to the beneficiary [you].

In situations where you are under eighteen (18) years old (or unable to manage your own affairs) it is paid out to trustees.

Note: Your parents may be appointed as trustees if you are still living with your family. Like most benefits and allowances the payout would go straight into a secure account.

Vaccination Injury Eligibility Criteria

Are you severely disabled and was your disability caused by vaccination against any of these diseases? If so, you could be entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment:

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Diphtheria
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB)
  • Human papillomavirus
  • Influenza, except for influenza caused by a pandemic influenza virus
  • Measles
  • Meningococcal group B (meningitis B)
  • Meningococcal group C (meningitis C)
  • Meningococcal group W (meningitis W)
  • Mumps
  • Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (swine flu) – up to 31st of August 2010
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Pneumococcal infection
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Rotavirus
  • Rubella (German measles)
  • Smallpox (up to the 1st of August 1971)
  • Tetanus
  • Tuberculosis (TB)

You might also meet the eligibility criteria for the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme if you are severely disabled because either:

  • Your mother had a vaccination jab against one of the diseases in the list while she was pregnant.
  • You have been in close physical contact with someone who has had an oral vaccine against poliomyelitis.

The same would also apply if you had a combined vaccination against several of the listed diseases that qualify for the payment.

For Example:
You might have been vaccinated against MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) or DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis).

Definition of Severely Disabled

The benefits office will calculate disablement as a percentage. As a result, they will define ‘severe disablement’ as a calculation resulting in at least 60% disabled.

The result can be for a mental or physical disablement. They will base it on medical evidence from the doctors or hospitals who are involved in the treatment.

When and Where the Vaccination Occurred

As a rule you must have had the vaccination before your 18th birthday. An exception could be when it occurred during an outbreak of disease in the United Kingdom or Isle of Man.

Other exceptions also apply for inoculations against:

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Human papillomavirus
  • Influenza
  • Meningococcal group C
  • Meningococcal group W (before 26th birthday)
  • Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (swine flu)
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Rubella

Note: The vaccination must have happened in the UK or the Isle of Man. But, having a vaccination as part of your armed forces medical treatment is an exception to this rule.

How to Claim Vaccine Damage Payment

You can apply by filling out the Vaccine Damage Payment Claim Form (VAD1A). Your parent or guardian should claim on your behalf if you are under the age of eighteen (18).

Contact the Vaccine Damage Payment Unit if you want them to send you the VDA1A claim form:

Vaccine Damage Payments Units
Telephone: 01772 899 944
Textphone: 0800 731 0317
Relay UK: 18001 then 01772 899 944
Monday to Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm
Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
List of UK phone call charges.

Send the completed VAD1A claim form to:

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

VDPS Time Limits for Claims

You cannot claim for a child until they are at least two (2) years old. You must claim for an adult by applying by whichever is the latest of these dates:

  • On or before their 21st birthday.
  • The date they would have reached the age of 21 if they already died.
  • Within six (6) years of having the vaccination.

How to Appeal a Vaccine Damage Payment Decision

If you disagree with a DLA decision you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. But, as a rule you must first ask for ‘mandatory reversal‘ before you lodge your appeal.

Related Help Guides

Statutory Award Scheme for Vaccine Injury in the United Kingdom