By Caribbean News Global 
LONDON England – The Windrush Compensation Scheme announced that it has now offered or paid more than £8 million – with more than half of that offered in the past six weeks since Home Secretary Priti Patel overhauled the scheme, according to a release from Home Office.
“Last month the Home Secretary implemented significant changes to the Windrush Compensation Scheme, increasing the minimum award under the Impact on Life category to £10,000. Provisional figures released show that since December 15, 2020, a further 238 offers have been made worth more than £4.5 million. Up until the end of November 2020, the scheme had paid or offered £3.7 million.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “I am really pleased the changes we introduced to the scheme are having immediate impact, with more people receiving significantly higher payments, much more quickly. The figures today show real progress and we must now keep up that momentum to help many more people get the compensation they deserve.”
The home office release said the changes were made in close consultation with members of the Windrush generation, community leaders, stakeholders and the cross-government Windrush Working Group co-chaired by Bishop Derek Webley.
“Although it is early days, the impact of the changes made to the Compensation Scheme are starting to show. It is another step forward on our collective journey to acknowledge, support and improve the lives of those who were impacted by the Windrush scandal,” Bishop Webley said. “The new minimum award of £10,000 made in the Impact on Life category will be paid as a new early preliminary payment, as soon as someone applying on their own behalf or on behalf of a deceased relative, can show any impact on their life under the terms of the scheme. They do not need to wait for their whole application to be assessed.”
Other changes announced last month include:
- Maximum payment through Impact on Life category increases from £10,000 to £100,000 or higher in exceptional circumstances
- Changes to the rules in the Loss of Access to Employment category, including removing the 12-month cap on payments in all circumstances
- £500,000 fund for community groups to raise awareness of the Windrush Compensation Scheme and Windrush Scheme.
