Post Office Horizon IT scandal compensation hits £1bn | EUROtoday

More than a billion kilos has now been paid out in compensation to victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, in response to new authorities figures.

A complete of £1.039bn has been awarded to simply over 7,300 sub-postmasters throughout all 4 redress schemes, the newest month-to-month figures present.

Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas stated: “We are settling cases every day and getting compensation out more quickly for the most complex cases, but the job isn’t done until every postmaster has received fair and just redress.”

More than 4,000 individuals have been informed they’re eligible for compensation. But the schemes they should entry to get it may be long-winded and complex.

We’ve damaged down how they work.

There is not a single compensation scheme for sub-postmasters to use to, and particular person eligibility will depend upon the actual circumstances of a person’s case.

The 4 fundamental schemes are aimed toward teams of victims who had completely different experiences of the scandal. They are defined in additional element within the following sections.

Alan Bates led a gaggle of 555 sub-postmasters in a landmark courtroom case in opposition to the Post Office, which got here to wider public consideration after it was depicted in an ITV drama.

While the cohort secured a £42.5m settlement in 2019, the massive prices of going to the High Court meant every claimant acquired a comparatively low compensation pay-out on the finish of it.

The Group Litigation Order (GLO) scheme was arrange to make sure they acquired extra cash to replicate the gravity of their conditions. The scheme is funded and managed by the federal government.

As of January 2024, individuals eligible for this scheme “will receive at least £75,000 in compensation upfront”.

The authorities estimates round two thirds will flip that provide down and push for extra. In these circumstances, the federal government will award postmasters 80% of the preliminary provide made to them.

On 9 September, Labour stated it can set a goal of creating a suggestion to 90% of sub-postmasters who’ve submitted a full declare inside 40 days.

As of 31 January, £128m has been paid beneath the scheme, together with interim funds.

Of the 555 members of the GLO group, 63 had legal convictions and due to this fact are usually not eligible for this scheme however they’re eligible for different compensation – relying on how their convictions are overturned.

If they’re quashed by the courtroom, they will apply to the Overturned Convictions Scheme. If they’re overturned beneath laws – the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024 which turned legislation in May – they will go to the newer Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme.

There have been 983 convictions – 700 of which had been privately initiated by the Post Office – linked to the defective Horizon IT programme.

People whose convictions are quashed can apply to the Overturned Convictions Scheme, whether or not or not they’re within the GLO group. It is that this scheme that the federal government has taken over duty for from the Post Office.

A complete of 111 individuals have had their convictions overturned as of 31 January.But when the federal government’s promised legislation to overturn all convictions linked to the scandal turns into a actuality, a whole bunch extra individuals can be eligible.

Those whose convictions are overturned can select to take a fast-tracked £600,000 settlement. Or they will enter into negotiations in the event that they really feel they’re entitled to extra.

All eligible persons are entitled to an “interim” cost whereas their closing settlements are processed. The authorities has offered funding to the Post Office for these funds.

For these individuals whose conviction is overturned by means of the brand new legislation, they will register for the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme.

This will entitle them to an preliminary £200,000 interim cost. They can then resolve to just accept £600,000 or have their case totally reviewed.

As of 31 January, exterior, £65m has been paid out beneath this scheme together with additional interim funds.

The newest figures present that out of 111 eligible claimants within the OCS scheme, 82 claims for full and closing settlements have been made with 66 paid out.

An additional seven have acquired gives. The remaining 9 are awaiting gives from Post Office Ltd.

The Post Office scandal goes far past the unique GLO courtroom case and the individuals who wound up with legal convictions.

Fearing prosecution, some sub-postmasters poured their very own financial savings into their companies to make up losses that had been incorrectly calculated by the pc programme.

In September, the Labour authorities introduced a brand new unbiased appeals course of system known as the Horizon Shortfall Scheme meant for these sub-postmasters who weren’t convicted or a part of the GLO courtroom motion.

It means they will enchantment in the event that they really feel their monetary settlement didn’t replicate the true extent of their losses and trauma.

It is run by the Post Office however the unbiased appeals course of can be overseen by the Department for Business. Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas stated he was nonetheless contemplating whether or not to switch this scheme to the federal government as effectively.

It has acquired greater than 4,665 eligible claims to date, in response to information, exterior from the Department for Business and Trade.

The variety of individuals eligible for one of many three fundamental schemes stands at over 4,000 – and the federal government has stated new potential victims are nonetheless coming ahead.

It is unclear what number of of them will find yourself receiving funds, and the processes – which have been criticised by campaigners for being too gradual – can typically take a number of years.

On 10 January 2024, the then Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake informed the Commons the households of the 60 individuals who died earlier than receiving any compensation would have the ability to apply for it of their place.

As of two June 2025, roughly £1.039bn has been awarded to simply over 7,300 sub-postmasters throughout all 4 redress schemes. That complete breaks down as:

• Horizon Shortfall Scheme – £ 559m
• Group Litigation Order Scheme – £167m
• Overturned Convictions Scheme –£68m
• Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme – £245m

The quantity a person sub-postmaster receives can range tremendously relying on the circumstances of their case.

Prof Chris Hodges, chair of the the unbiased Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, informed the BBC compensation funds which have been made to date vary from £10,000 to “well over £1m”.

The authorities has not offered an estimate for a way a lot compensation can be paid out in complete, however it can inevitably run into the a whole bunch of tens of millions on prime of what has already been paid.