皇冠体育app

As part of the UK Government鈥檚 review of the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, has today [01 August 2024] extended the current backdating period deadline by two years from 31 August 2024 to 31 August 2026.

皇冠体育app scheme was opened in August 2021 to provide acknowledgement payments to individuals who were permanently injured in Troubles-related incidents.聽

Following concerns raised聽by聽a number of individuals and organisations, including groups who represent victims and survivors of the Troubles,聽that some potential applicants could lose out on backdated payments, the Secretary of State has moved to ensure all potential beneficiaries of the scheme have sufficient time to consider making an application.

This extension will allow anyone deemed eligible in the five-year lifespan of the scheme to avail of a payment backdated to 2014.

Explaining his decision to extend the backdating period of the scheme, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said:聽

鈥淎pproximately 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.

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme, overseen by the Victims Payments Board, has made progress in making acknowledgement payments to permanently injured victims of the Troubles.聽

鈥淏ut with the deadline approaching, there was a risk that some potential applicants would miss out on backdated payments. I have therefore decided to extend the period for which backdated payments are available by a further two years.聽

鈥淚 hope this will assist both those who have suffered and are applying to the scheme, and those who are supporting applicants.鈥澛�

Notes to editor:

• 皇冠体育app UK Government, in the absence of the NI Executive, made Regulations for this scheme in January 2020. 皇冠体育appse Regulations established 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme鈥� (the scheme) and provisions for the 鈥榁ictims鈥� Payments Board鈥� (the Board). This scheme is a devolved matter and is delivered by the Victims Payments Board.
• 皇冠体育app purpose of the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme (TPDPS) is to provide acknowledgement payments to individuals who were permanently injured in Troubles related incidents. It has been open since August 2021.
• 皇冠体育app Regulations make it clear that payments to eligible applicants will be backdated to the date of the Stormont House Agreement (December 2014) for the first three years of the scheme鈥檚 operation. 皇冠体育app scheme will close for new applications in August 2026, 5 years after it opened.
• 皇冠体育app Secretary of State has the power to extend either of these dates, and both of these issues were considered as part of the Secretary of State鈥檚 review of the scheme. 皇冠体育app full report on the review will be published before the deadline imposed by the Regulations, which is August 31st 2024.