"Victims of the Windrush scandal will be paid as much as 75% of their compensation in advance under an overhaul of the scheme designed to deliver faster justice. Victims will also be compensated for the first time for lost contributions to work or personal pensions, something campaigners have long fought for. The Home Office also said priority would be given to applications from those aged 75 and over and those with serious health conditions to ensure that elderly and vulnerable people are compensated more quickly."
"The home secretary said it was unacceptable that many victims were still waiting for compensation years after the scandal broke. That changes today. We will deliver justice so that those suffering financial hardship through no fault of their own are paid for their lost pension savings, Shabana Mahmood said. The Home Office Windrush scandal was a shameful stain on our history. I will leave no stone left unturned until everyone affected receives the justice they deserve."
"The chair of the Windrush National Organisation, Bishop Desmond Jaddoo, said: We welcome this. We have long raised issues about pensions so it's good news the Home Office has finally addressed this. We also know that once the Home Office makes a compensation offer, it is never reduced, so it makes sense to give the claimant the option to be paid 75% of that pending an appeal, it helps the financial burden people face."
Victims of the Windrush scandal will be eligible to receive up to 75% of approved compensation as an advance to alleviate financial hardship. Compensation will now cover lost contributions to work or personal pensions and reimburse immigration fees paid due to inability to prove lawful status. Priority processing will be given to applicants aged 75 and over and those with serious health conditions. The Home Office pledged to speed payments after years of delay, while campaigners welcomed pension recognition and advance payments pending appeal. The Windrush Compensation Scheme launched in April 2019 for people wrongly classified as illegal immigrants.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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