Website of the UK government

Who can claim?

You may be able to get a Vaccine Damage Payment if you're severely disabled and your disability was caused by vaccination against any of the following diseases:

You may have had a combined vaccination against a number of the diseases listed, for example DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) or MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).

You may also be able to get a payment if you're thought to be severely disabled because either:

What counts as 'severely disabled'?

Disablement is worked out as a percentage, and 'severe disablement' means at least 60 per cent disabled. This could be a mental or physical disablement.

For example, total loss of sight or hearing is usually counted as 100 per cent.

When and where the vaccination must have taken place

To be eligible, the vaccination must normally have been before your 18th birthday -  unless it was against poliomyelitis, rubella or Meningococcal Group c, or during an outbreak of disease in the UK or the Isle of Man.

The vaccination must have been given in the UK or the Isle of Man.

If the vaccination was outside the UK, you may still be able to get a payment if it was given as part of Armed Forces medical treatment.

When to claim

If you're claiming on behalf of a child, you must wait until they're at least two years old.

The claim must be made by which ever is the later of the following dates:

How much do you get?

£120,000, tax free

How it's paid

You'll get payment direct to you or, if you're under 18 or can't manage your own affairs, payment will be made to trustees.

 If you live with your family, your parents may be appointed as trustees.

Effect on other benefits

Your Vaccine Damage Payment can affect other benefits and entitlements like:

The effect the payment will have depends on a number of things, including if the payment is put into a trust and the payments made from it.

You should let the office that deals with your benefit or tax credit claim know if you've got a Vaccine Damage Payment and they will be able give you more information.

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit

How to claim

You can contact the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit to ask for a claim form:

Vaccine Damage Payments Unit

Palatine House, Lancaster Road

Preston, PR1 1HB

Telephone 01772 899 944

Textphone 01772 899 489

You can also use RNID Typetalk.

Lines are open 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Or download a claim form to print off and fill in.

If you're under 18, your parent or guardian should claim on your behalf.

• Download the Vaccine Damage Payment claim form (PDF document, 192K) Opens new window
• Download the Vaccine Damage Payment leaflet (PDF, 420K)
• Help with PDF files

What happens after you've sent off the claim form?

Once your claim has been received, the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit will get medical evidence from the doctors or hospitals involved in your treatment.

A claim will be successful if it's accepted that:

The result of the claim will be given to you in writing.

How to appeal

If your claim is turned down and you disagree with the decision, you can ask for the decision to be looked at again by the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit, or you can appeal to an independent appeal tribunal.

If you think that relevant information has not been taken into account or new information becomes available you can ask for the decision to be looked at again by the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit.

Vaccine Damage Payment - British Sign Language and subtitled film

A short film about Vaccine Damage Payment - which is presented in British Sign Language, narrated and also subtitled - can be downloaded from Directgov. The information is also available on DVD, which you can request to be delivered to you.

• Disability benefits - British Sign Language and subtitled films (disabled people section)

More useful links

• Guide to financial support for disabled people (disabled people section)
• Information for carers - including support, rights and taking a break (caring for someone section)