Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme: what it does
The VDPS is a statutory scheme. If a person is severely disabled as a result of certain vaccinations, a one-off tax-free payment of £120,000 may be available. The scheme is not itself a compensation scheme, and receiving a payment does not prevent a separate legal claim for compensation where a viable cause of action exists.
The key threshold is severe disablement.
For VDPS purposes, severe disablement means at least 60% disabled. The assessment is based on medical evidence and the causal link between the vaccination and the disability.
The four questions we examine
Is the vaccination covered?
Eligibility depends on the vaccination, age and where it was given. COVID-19 is among the diseases covered by the current scheme, alongside a defined list of other vaccinations.
Causation
Medical evidence must support that the vaccination caused the disability. A close timing between vaccination and symptoms can be relevant, but timing alone does not necessarily establish causation.
Level of disablement
The scheme requires at least 60% disablement. We examine the medical assessment, functional impact and whether all relevant consequences have been taken into account.
Which legal route?
A VDPS application, a challenge or tribunal appeal, and a civil compensation claim are different routes with different tests, remedies and evidence. More than one route may need to be considered.
If your VDPS claim was refused
A decision can be challenged through the VDPS process. Current GOV.UK guidance refers to a 'mandatory reversal' request, supported by reasons and any new evidence. If the decision remains adverse, an appeal can be made to the independent Social Security and Child Support Tribunal using form SSCS7. We can review the decision, identify evidential gaps and prepare the challenge or appeal.
Medical and expert evidence
These cases often turn on medical chronology, diagnosis, competing causes, functional impact and the percentage disablement assessment. We can organise the evidential record and identify where specialist expert opinion is needed. A strong case should distinguish temporal association from medically and legally supported causation.
Separate compensation claims
The VDPS payment is not the same as damages in civil litigation. Depending on the facts, a separate claim may need to examine negligence, product liability, causation, limitation and recoverable loss. Whether such a claim is viable is fact-specific and should be assessed separately from VDPS eligibility.
Time limits and urgency
VDPS procedure is distinct from limitation periods for civil claims. A civil compensation claim can be lost by delay even where a VDPS route remains open. If you are considering court proceedings, limitation should be checked immediately.
How Theodorous can help
We can assess eligibility, review refusal decisions, analyse medical evidence and causation, prepare mandatory reversal submissions and tribunal appeals, and advise whether a separate civil claim should be investigated. Where specialist medical or counsel input is required, that can be identified early.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Vaccine Damage Payment?
The current statutory payment is a one-off tax-free £120,000 if the scheme criteria are met. It is not intended to calculate or replace the full value of a separate civil compensation claim.
Do I need to prove 60% disablement?
Yes. Under the current VDPS rules, 'severe disablement' means at least 60% disabled. The assessment is evidence-based and can be a central issue in disputed claims.
Can I appeal if my claim was refused?
Yes. The decision can be challenged through the VDPS mandatory-reversal process and, if it remains adverse, appealed to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. The correct evidence and reasons for challenge should be identified early.
What should I send you?
Send the VDPS application and decision letters, vaccination details, a medical chronology, relevant records and diagnoses, evidence of the effect on daily life or work, and any expert evidence already obtained.
Current scheme information. Last reviewed 18 September 2026 against GOV.UK Vaccine Damage Payment guidance and HMCTS vaccine-damage appeal guidance. Scheme rules and procedures can change, so current official requirements should be checked for each case. GOV.UK VDPS guidance · HMCTS appeal guidance