Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS)

Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) claim process

This webpage explains the VDPS claim process for claims received on or after 17 March 2025

Each claim is assessed on a case-by-basis by a medical assessor. The way your claim will be assessed depends on the information you tell us on your claim form, so it’s important you explain exactly what happened after the vaccine was administered.

What happens when we receive your claim

We’ll process your claim as quickly as possible. Once you submit your claim:

  1. We’ll contact you to let you know we’ve received your claim form. If we need to, we’ll request more information about your claim. You’ll be given a VAD reference number. This number is unique to you. You’ll be asked to provide it whenever you contact us about your claim.
  2. A medical assessor will review the information you’ve provided on your claim form. They’ll check whether they need medical records from the healthcare providers listed on your claim form before your claim is assessed.
  3. We’ll contact you about how your claim will be progressed as soon as this happens.

When medical records will be requested

We will request medical records for all Jersey claims.

For all other claims, we’ll contact the healthcare providers listed on your claim form directly if we need to request medical records. You do not need to do this yourself.

Examples of claims we’ve requested medical records for are:

  • Bell’s palsy
  • capillary leak syndrome
  • myocardial infarction

We work with healthcare providers to obtain copies of medical records as quickly and efficiently as possible, but it can take time for them to send us medical records.

When medical records will not be requested (UK and Isle of Man claims only)

Under the government’s rules for the scheme, payment can only be made if an eligible vaccine has caused severe disablement. Severe disablement means at least 60% disabled, examples of which can be found in Schedule 2 of the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982.

We do not request medical records if a medical assessor has received sufficient information in the claim form to determine that the condition claimed for:

  • is a minor short-term problem that has passed or will pass
  • can be managed by you or with occasional GP help

Examples of claims we do not request medical records for are:

  • runny nose
  • minor headaches
  • backache
  • other minor side effects normally associated with being vaccinated

How your claim is assessed

All claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis by a medical assessor. All medical assessors are General Medical Council (GMC) registered doctors with a license to practise and at least 5 years' experience.

All relevant information is considered to make a complete and fair assessment. The medical assessor thoroughly considers:

  • information given on the claim form
  • any further evidence submitted by you
  • any pre-existing conditions that are not caused by the vaccine
  • medical records (if required)
  • clinical research
  • epidemiological evidence
  • the current consensus of expert medical opinion

The medical assessor will advise if you are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment, based on the government’s rules for the scheme.

Receiving a decision about your claim

As soon as your claim has been assessed, you’ll receive a letter telling you the outcome, and a copy of the comprehensive medical report VAD 30 (MA) form (PDF: 188KB). The medical assessment report is written by the medical assessor and explains how they reached their decision.

We’ll provide you with information on how to challenge the medical assessor’s decision if your claim is rejected.

We will request your bank details if your claim meets the criteria for a Vaccine Damage Payment.

If your claim is in relation to a vaccine received in the UK or Isle of Man, your outcome letter and medical assessment report will come from the NHSBSA.

If your claim is in relation to a vaccine received in Jersey, your outcome letter and medical assessment report will come from the Government of Jersey.

Guidance the medical assessor uses

Medical assessors use resources to support their assessment, including, but not limited to, some or all of the following:  

How long it takes to assess a claim 

The length of time it takes to process a claim varies from case to case. This will depend on the complexity of the case and the length of time a particular healthcare provider takes to supply the requested medical records.

Keeping you updated

Throughout the process, we will do all we can to progress your claim as quickly as possible and contact you with updates about your claim.

Contact us

If you need help with the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, contact us by:

Find out about call charges

We're available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

You can also write to us at:

NHS Business Services Authority
Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Unit 5 Greenfinch Way
Newburn Industrial Estate
Newburn
NE15 8NX

Privacy notice

For UK and Isle of Man claims, the VDPS privacy notice explains how the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS Business Services Authority securely store data of those claiming a Vaccine Damage Payment.

For Jersey claims, the VDPS privacy notice explains how the Government of Jersey and the NHSBSA securely store data of those claiming a Vaccine Damage Payment.

The data is used to process a claim and support the administration of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

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