Some £139 million has been paid out so far under a scheme for those permanently disabled as a result of an incident from Northern Ireland's troubled past. The total comes just months before the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme closes to new applicants at the end of August.
The scheme opened on August 31, 2021, with the aim of providing those living with a disablement through no fault of their own during the Troubles with a payment in recognition of the harm they suffered and the impact on their carers. Administered by the Victims' Payments Board (VPB), the scheme can award payments ranging from £2,494 to £12,471 per annum to eligible applicants.
The leaders of the VPB appeared before the Executive Office committee on Wednesday. VPB secretary Paul Bullick told MLAs that as of this week, around £139 million has been paid to eligible applicants. He said they have received just over 13,000 applications to the scheme, including around 950 from applicants outside of Northern Ireland, and that they expect a small spike before the scheme closes.
VPB president Mr Justice McAlinden highlighted that they have received a limited number of applications from veterans. “We’re certainly making every effort to ensure through contact with veterans’ organisations that people do not feel put off making applications, that the scheme is for them as well,” he said. “There are issues in relation to the deductions from other payments, etc, we’ll face those issues but we always have to address every issue under the scheme in a victim-centric manner, with a victim-centric focus.”
Mr Bullick went on to outline that around 6,000 applications were listed for consideration in front of a panel, and to date some 4,800 determinations have been made, with around 3,000 being found to be eligible, and 1,800 found ineligible. “With the scheme due to close for applications in August this year, we have continued to work with our media partners to ensure that the messaging is pushed to as wide an audience as possible, particularly in wider Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and further afield,” he said. “An awareness campaign did take place in September 2025 to advertise the scheme across a wide range of stakeholders, political representatives and welfare groups throughout the UK, Republic of Ireland and further afield.”
He added: “It shouldn’t be underestimated the difference that this scheme has made to victims and their families. We know it has changed their lives for the better – those who have received a payment – and provided them with much needed support and financial security.”
