FAQs

1. What is the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment (TPDP) Scheme?

The TPDP Scheme was established under The Victims' Payments Regulations 2020 to provide payments to those living with permanent injuries—physical and/or psychological—caused by Troubles-related incidents.

2. What is the purpose of the scheme?
The scheme acknowledges the acute harm caused by Troubles-related injuries and offers recognition of the lasting impact, including financial implications, on individuals and their families. It also aims to promote reconciliation between people in connection with Northern Ireland’s troubled past.

3. Who administers the scheme?
On 24^th August 2020, The Executive Office (TEO) within the Northern Ireland Executive designated the Department of Justice (DoJ) to exercise the administrative functions of the Victims’ Payments  Board on the Board’s behalf. 

1. Who can apply?
Applicants must have sustained a Troubles-related injury resulting in permanent disablement (assessed degree of disablement must be minimum 14%) between 1 January 1966 and 11 April 2010. The injury must have occurred:

• In the UK or Europe (with qualifying residency/citizenship status), or
• While serving the Crown or accompanying someone in Crown service.

Presence at, or immediate aftermath of, a Troubles-related incident or response in the course of employment is required. See Regulation 5 for the full detail on entitlement.

2. Can applications be made outside the date range?
Yes, in limited circumstances where excluding a case based on dates would undermine the purpose of the scheme. The Board has discretion in these cases.

3. Are there any exclusions?
Yes. Applicants with serious unspent convictions, see Regulation 6, (generally involving sentences over 30 months) or those whose actions caused their injury are not eligible. The Board may also exclude applicants in exceptional circumstances, guided by statutory criteria. 

When taking decisions as to whether a relevant conviction or exceptional circumstances make entitlement to victims’ payments inappropriate, the Board and the President must have regard to guidance produced by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The guidance does not apply to decisions where the applicant has a conviction in respect of conduct which caused, wholly or in part, the incident in which they sustained an injury. If you were injured by your own hand, you will not be entitled to payments from this scheme.

1. How do I apply?
Applications can be made online, with guidance and a portal for uploading supporting documents. Paper forms are also available upon request, find details here.

A number of organisations who currently provide support to victims and survivors have been provided with funding to recruit staff to provide advice and support for completing an application. Contact details for the organisations are as follows: Support Services.

2. What evidence should I provide?
Include any existing medical records or documents that verify the injury and its connection to a Troubles-related incident. The Board will contact relevant agencies (e.g. PSNI, HSC, PRONI)if it is considered that they hold information that will assist with verifying your application. This could include, for example, verifying presence at a Troubles-related incident.

Please note that any information that you already hold from these organisations should be submitted to support your application. It is not necessary to contact these organisations to obtain any additional information as the Victims’ Payments Board will be doing this when considered necessary to do so.

You should however provide the basic information for each incident which is requested in the application form, that is, date, location and description. This information is required to commence contact with the other organisations and if not provided we will need to go back to you to obtain.

3. Will I need to provide more information after submitting my application?
Possibly. Before an application can be listed for hearing, information should be available for each incident to support the eligibility criteria. This includes how you were PRESENT at each incident, how each incident is considered a troubles-related incident and also, if applicable, how a deceased victim was known to you.

It is strongly recommended that you provide this information on your application form to avoid potential upset at being asked subsequently. If this is not provided, the Scheme will need to request this from you separately to ensure that ALL information is available to the Panel.

4. What about medical assessments?
Capita have been appointed to conduct assessments to determine the level of permanent disablement as a result of a Troubles-related incident (TRI). You should submit any relevant medical documents you already hold with your application. The evidence submitted should relate to any injury caused by a TRI.  It is not necessary for you to seek any additional medical evidence to support your application. Arrangements have been made where Capita may contact your GP or healthcare provider directly if necessary.

The Victims’ Payments Board may also contact you to clarify any information submitted with your application. In some cases where, despite extensive efforts, a GP has not provided medical notes you may be contacted to request your medical notes through a Subject Access Request (SAR). If this is the case, you will be asked in writing and given clear instructions on how to do this.

5. What if my condition worsens after a payment is made?
You may apply for reassessment within 12 months of your condition worsening. Only one such application is permitted. See Regulation 33 for more details.

6. Can I apply on behalf of someone who has died?
Yes, in certain circumstances. Eligible individuals include spouses, partners, or carers who meet set criteria. Payments are made for 10 years from the date of death (except when a lump sum payment has been made).

7. What if multiple people apply on behalf of a deceased person?
A panel must, so far as possible determine the most appropriate applicant, usually the person who the panel reasonably considers the deceased would likely have nominated. The panel must have regard to any will made by the deceased.

If the panel is unable to decide who the deceased would have nominated and the person who was the deceased's spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner seeks to make an application, the panel must determine what application may proceed unless the Board considers it would be inequitable to do so. This does not apply if the spouse or civil partner was estranged from the deceased.

In any other case, or where the Board considers it inequitable for an application to proceed, the panel must determine which application is, in the interests of fairness, to proceed. There is a right of appeal.

1. Who makes the decisions?
An independent Victims’ Payments Board, chaired by Mr Justice McAlinden, composed of legal, medical, and ordinary members.

2. Will I have a face-to-face hearing?
Not always. The Board decides whether a hearing is necessary or if a paper-based hearing will suffice.

3. Can I appeal a decision?
Yes. Appeals must be submitted within 12 months of the date you were notified of the decision or assessment. However, the President of the Board may extend this time period if he considers it equitable having regard to the circumstances. Grounds for appeal include eligibility, disablement percentage, and payment adjustments. Your appeal must be submitted to the Victims’ Payments Board using the form provided for that purpose, and you must set out your grounds of appeal in writing. See Regulation 34-38 for more on appeals.

1. Can I claim expenses for applying?
Yes, the Victims’ Payments Board may reimburse reasonable expenses of travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs if approved in advance. Legal or paid representation costs will not be covered.

2. How are payment levels determined?
If the Victims’ Payments Board considers that you are entitled to a payment from the scheme, the amount you receive will depend on the degree of permanent disablement you have experienced as a result of a Troubles-related incident.

Payments will be made on a sliding scale and the rate of payment is set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to The Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 2006. 

The current rates of payments are as follows but please note that payments may be adjusted for any previous compensation you have received for your injury or any other payments received for the same disablement (see below).

3. What other payments might affect my award?
The Victims’ Payments Board may use discretion in adjusting the amount of payments payable where compensation has been previously received for the same disablement and that compensation exceeds the amount of “exempted compensation”. 

The Board has published a separate guidance note setting out how the Board will make adjustments for compensation that was previously awarded for the same injury.

4. How are payments issued?
Payments are usually made monthly via BACS transfer. In some cases, a lump sum may be requested.

5. When can I request a lump sum?
If you are over 60 or terminally ill. You may switch to a lump sum at any time if eligible, but the decision is final and replaces all other scheme entitlements.

6. What happens after my death?
A nominated individual (spouse, partner, or carer) may receive payments for up to 10 years. Eligibility conditions apply.

7. Will this affect my benefits?
No. Payments are disregarded in the assessment of most social security benefits and care contributions.

8. Are payments taxable?
No. Payments are exempt from tax under the Finance Act 2020, clause 102.

1. How is my data used?
Your data is handled in line with UK GDPR. The privacy notice outlines how personal information is used and shared.

2. Can I get my medical report from the psychiatrist or Capita?
Medical reports may only be shared after the Board has made its determination, due to legal exemptions protecting judicial independence.

3. Why was my case adjourned or returned to Capita?
Adjournments occur if more information is needed. Cases returned to Capita typically involve new medical evidence requiring reassessment.