Windrush Compensation Scheme factsheet – October 2022
We are determined to put right the terrible injustices faced by some people from the Windrush generation and the wider Commonwealth, which happened under successive governments.
To help right those wrongs, the Home Office has announced that the Windrush Documentation Scheme and the Windrush Compensation Scheme will remain open as long as they are needed, so no one is prevented from making a claim because a deadline has passed.
The Windrush Documentation Scheme allows people who were affected by Windrush to get the documentation they need to prove their right to be in the UK, free of charge.
Windrush Compensation Scheme
The Windrush Compensation Scheme was launched on 3 April 2019. You may be able to claim compensation if you suffered losses because you could not show that you had a right to live in the UK.
On 24 November 2022, the Home Office published the latest set of data on the Scheme, which covers the period to the end of October 2022.
The total amount paid or offered to claimants through the scheme has increased to over £59.58 million.
£51.02 million has been paid across 1,307 claims and a further £8.56 million has been offered, awaiting acceptance, or pending review.
The statistics also show that 59.2% of claims have had a final decision.
During the month of October, the Home Office paid out over £1.46 million in compensation.
Example cases of people who have received compensation:
- Ms T had difficulties travelling. When returning to the UK from a holiday, they were challenged at the airport when she produced her Jamaican passport and was issued with a 2 month Leave to Enter stamp. In 2018 Ms T applied for documentation, which was granted within 2 months. Ms T applied for compensation and was paid £20,000.00.
- Mr A was detained on two separate occasions for an inability to demonstrate status. In 2018, Mr A applied for documentation which was granted within 5 months. Mr A applied for compensation and was paid over £120,000.00.
- Mr H was stopped at the airport when returning to the UK from a business trip and detained for over an hour. In 2018, Mr H applied for documentation which was granted within 2 months. Mr H applied for compensation and was paid over £40,000.00.
- Mr C’s employment was terminated due to an inability to demonstrate status. In 2019, Mr C applied for documentation, which was granted within 5 months. Mr C applied for compensation and was paid over £120,00.00.
- Mr G was suspended without pay in 2016 due to an inability to demonstrate status. Mr G’s employment ended, and he was actively seeking work but unable to continue applications due to an inability demonstrating status. In 2020, Mr G applied for documentation, which was granted within a month. Mr G applied for compensation and was paid over £22,000.00.
Windrush Scheme for Documentation
On 16 April 2018, the Home Office established the Windrush Taskforce, now known as the Help Team, to ensure members of the Windrush generation could get the documentation they need to prove their right to be in the UK. Over 15,700 people have been issued with documentation confirming their status or British citizenship.
Individuals from a wide range of nationalities have been granted documentation after applying to the Windrush Scheme from within the UK, including a wide range of Commonwealth countries.
| Q3 2022 | |
| Jamaica | 3,353 |
| Caribbean | 1,855 |
| Pakistan | 175 |
| India | 2,188 |
| Bangladesh | 146 |
| Ghana | 151 |
| Nigeria | 434 |
| EU | 4,640 |
| Rest of world | 2,771 |
| 15,713 |
Urgent and exceptional cases
In December 2018, the Home Office established an Urgent and Exceptional Payments process for those members of the Windrush generation who had an urgent and exceptional need in advance of the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
The process remains open for those who need it. The total value of the payments approved, to the end of October, is £223,418.67.
But this is just one way we help those in urgent need. There is also a dedicated Vulnerable Persons Team (VPT) to provide help and advice for more vulnerable people. This service also helps people:
- with support and advice on accessing mainstream benefits
- get support and advice on housing
To the end of October, the VPT has provided support to 2,056 individuals.
Improvements to the Scheme
The Home Office keeps the Compensation Scheme under constant review, to make sure that everyone receives the compensation they deserve.
In December 2020, following feedback from the Windrush Cross Government Working Group, members of the Windrush generation, community leaders and those affected, we overhauled the compensation scheme so people can receive significantly more money, more quickly and this had an immediate beneficial impact. Within six weeks of making the changes, we had offered more than we had in the first 19 months of the scheme.
Changes included raising the value of awards for impact on life at every level, so everyone is paid more in this category, with the maximum award increasing from £10,000 to £100,000 (with options for even higher awards in exceptional circumstances).
The most recent changes were made in August 2022 to make the Scheme more generous, including changes to homelessness and for close family members.
Every close family member who suffered an impact can now receive a minimum of £10,000. They can now also claim compensation for costs incurred whilst supporting someone who lost their employment or benefits because they were unable to prove their immigration status.
Changes made to the Homelessness category, including the removal of the cap, and removal of the requirement to demonstrate physical or mental health impacts due to homelessness. These changes will make sure people are compensated for the full period they were homeless.
For those who do need support, the Home Office has funded an organisation to provide free, independent claimant assistance to individuals for the duration of the Scheme, We Are Digital.
Compensation payments are made as quickly as possible, but each person’s claim is deeply personal and deserves to be processed with the utmost care and sensitivity so that the maximum payment can be made to them.
Individuals must accept their offer of compensation before it can be paid, or, if they are dissatisfied, they can ask for a review. This is first through an independent internal review (Tier 1) and, if someone remains dissatisfied, through an independent review by the independent Adjudicator (Tier 2).
Community Engagement Fund
On 20 September 2022 the Home Office launched a £150,000 Community Engagement Fund. Closing date for applications is 21 October.
The Community Engagement Fund provides support to charities, community or grassroots organisations to engage communities and raise awareness of priority Home Office policies and the support available. This financial year the fund aims to gain more insights from communities affected by Windrush, particularly around barriers to applying for the Windrush Schemes.
For more information and how to apply visit: Community Engagement Fund (Windrush) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Promotion of the Schemes and supporting communities
The £500,000 Windrush Community Fund (WCF) was launched in December 2020 to support community and grassroots organisations to run outreach and promotional activity to raise awareness of the Windrush Scheme (Documentation) and Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Twenty-seven community organisations were awarded monies under the two phases of the WCF. Phase one projects were completed by end of August 2022.
Phase one groups have reached over 865,470 individuals through their activities and events and supported over 2,520 individuals in a variety of ways including signposting to additional support, assisting with Windrush Compensation or Documentation Scheme applications, sharing knowledge and addressing misinformation about the Schemes or the role of the Home Office.
The Government continues to work closely with stakeholders to ensure anyone who should benefit from the Scheme applies.
Amounts offered and paid month by month
| Month | Cumulative amount paid | Cumulative amount offered |
| Apr-22 | £40.5m | £49.5m |
| May-22 | £42.2m | £51.8m |
| June-22 | £43.9m | £54.1m |
| July-22 | £46.7m | £55.4m |
| Aug-22 | £48.6m | £56.9m |
| Sept-22 | £49.5m | £58.1m |
| Oct-22 | £51.02m | £59.58m |
Notes:
- The amount awarded is subject to change if the award is revised following a review or if an Urgent and Exceptional Payment (UEP) is made.
- All data taken from a live operational system that is subject to change over time.
- The amount offered excludes urgent and exceptional and other government department payments.
Breakdown of full and final offers and payments
| Pay range | Number of customers offered | Number of customers paid |
| Nil offer | 1,156 | N/A |
| From £0.00, less than £10,000.00 | 6 | * |
| From £10,000.00, less than £30,000.00 | 710 | 656 |
| From £30,000.00, less than £50,000.00 | 395 | 357 |
| From £50,000.00, less than £100,000.00 | 235 | 204 |
| From £100,000.00, less than £150,000.00 | 68 | 55 |
| From £150,000.00, less than £200,000.00 | 14 | 11 |
| From £200,000.00, less than £250,000.00 | 12 | 9 |
| From £250,000.00, less than £300,000.00 | * | * |
| From £3000,000.00, less than £350,000.00 | - | - |
| From £350,000.00, less than £400,000.00 | - | - |
| From £400,000.00, less than £450,000.00 | * | * |
Table Special Values: * indicates fewer than 5 customers; and - indicates no offers or payments in the given pay range.