Troubles pension scheme extended by two years

The UK government has agreed to a two-year extension for a Troubles' victims payment scheme following appeals by both victims and campaigners.

The Troubles Permanent Disability Payment (TPDP) scheme is now open for applicants until August 2026.

It offers payments to those who suffered physical or psychological injuries in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

However, an element of the scheme - a one-off, tax-free payment backdated to 2014 - was due to close for applicants at the end of August 2024.

A sunset clause in legislation meant that to get the backdated lump sum, applications also had to be submitted by the end of this month.

After that, successful applicants would only receive the monthly element of the payment scheme.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Peter Hain wrote to the then secretary of state, Chris Heaton-Harris, asking him to consider extending the back payment deadline.

In his letter, Lord Hain highlighted reasons why the cut-off point should be extended, including backlogs caused by delays in obtaining medical records.

He also told Mr Heaton-Harris that there were people who were eligible to apply to the scheme who did not know of its existence.

The new Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, has now agreed to extend the scheme until August 2026.

Explaining his decision Mr Benn said: “Approximately 40,000 people were injured during the Troubles, and it is essential that we recognise the great hurt that was caused during this dark period in our history."

Mr Benn said the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, which is overseen by the Victims Payments Board, has made "progress in making acknowledgement payments to permanently injured victims of the Troubles".

“But with the deadline approaching, there was a risk that some potential applicants would miss out on backdated payments," he added.

"I have therefore decided to extend the period for which backdated payments are available by a further two years."

He hopes the deadline extension will assist both those who have suffered and are applying to the scheme, but those who are supporting applicants.

Speaking to BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster, Paul Gallagher of the victims' support group the Wave Trauma Centre, said the decision to extend the scheme, "while overdue, is totally welcome".

"It was the common sense decision. We’ve been saying it’s a no brainer for so long, I think it would have been unfair to have this cut off point," Mr Gallagher said.

"We’re thankful that it’s through," he said.

Mr Gallagher said that even thinking about coming forward to apply for the scheme can be "pretty onerous" for some people.

"Even thinking about coming forward, for many people, can be a struggle, but when they do come forward, hopefully to our staff who are well trained, very empathetic, want to help people to get as full an application as possible so they can maybe have a successful result," he said.

Mr Gallagher said many people still don't know about the scheme.

"A lot of people don’t even maybe even see themselves or consider themselves as victims, as suffering from what’s happened to them," he said.

Kenny Donaldson, of the victims group SEFF (South East Fermanagh Foundation), welcomed the decision, which he said his group had "lobbied hard" for.

"This is hopefully a good omen from this secretary of state that he is prepared to listen and to adapt policy thinking in line with delivering better outcomes for victims/survivors," he said.

"A stiffer test is ahead for him in respect of legacy and of agreeing a set of proposals which will ensure all victims/survivors have pathways to justice, truth and accountability."

The scheme, also known as the victims' pension, was originally set up in law by the Westminster government in 2020 to provide pensions to people who suffered physically and/or psychologically during the Troubles.

The level of payment could range from about £2,000 to £10,000 per year, depending on the extent of the applicant's disability.

The scheme will be open in total for five years from the date it first launched on 31 August 2021.

It is being run by the Victims' Payment Board, which determines each application and administers the fund.

However, some victims' groups have been critical of the decision-making process and the length of time it takes.

In January, BBC News NI reported that more than 40 people who applied to the scheme have died before any decision was made.

As of December 2023, a total of 6,209 applications had been received by the board.