Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services
I am pleased to inform Members about additional support for people infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV via contaminated blood or blood products. The significant impact on their lives, and their families, has been extensively discussed in the Senedd.
I have agreed to introduce a discretionary child payment, which builds on the ex-gratia payments currently made by the Wales Infected Blood Support Scheme (WIBSS) on our behalf. This will be paid annually, from January 2023, at the rate of £3,000 for a first child and £1,200 for the second and each subsequent child.
The payment is intended for the care and support of a child/children, who are either the biological child or form part of the household of an of an infected beneficiary – this can be an adopted child/children or the child/children of a partner of an infected beneficiary with whom they live. This can be claimed by the infected beneficiary, bereaved beneficiary or the primary care provider of a child/children of an infected beneficiary (that is someone who is not a beneficiary but are responsible for the support of a child/children of an infected beneficiary for whom they are caring for).
The payment will continue until the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry are known and have been considered by all four UK health departments.
WIBSS will write to all beneficiaries with details of the eligibility criteria and application process.