The Home Office guidance setting out the full rules of the Windrush Compensation Scheme, which has no closing date for claims, shows an update date of 10 July 2026. This item summarises the rules as published.
The guidance page for Windrush Compensation Scheme: full rules is dated "Updated 10 July 2026". The source text available to us does not say what changed in that update, and it does not state the 15 January 2026 date or the October 2025 announcement. This item therefore describes the rules as published and makes no claim about which paragraphs were amended. The rules are set out in eleven parts, with Annexes A to J covering definitions and each type of award.
Who can claim. Paragraph 2.1 lists the primary claimants. They include Commonwealth citizens settled in the United Kingdom before 1 January 1973, their children and grandchildren in defined circumstances, and (under 2.1(f)) a person of any nationality who arrived before 31 December 1988 and is lawfully in the United Kingdom or is now a British citizen. Paragraph 2.1(g) covers some claimants outside the United Kingdom. The estate of a primary claimant can also claim (2.2).
Close family members. Under paragraph 2.5, a close family member can claim only under four provisions: fees and costs (Annex B), impact on life (Annex H), discretionary award (Annex I) and living costs (Annex J). Paragraph 2.8 defines a close family member as a spouse or civil partner living with the claimant, a partner of at least 2 years, or the claimant's child, parent or sibling.
Types of award. Part 3 provides for awards covering:
- immigration and legal fees (Annex B)
- detention, deportation, removal or return (Annex C)
- loss of access to employment (Annex D)
- loss of access to child benefit, child tax credit or working tax credit (Annex E)
- denial of access to services (Annex F)
- homelessness (Annex G)
- impact on life (Annex H)
- discretionary awards (Annex I)
- living costs for close family members (Annex J)
Where an award is made, the determination is accompanied by an apology from the Home Office (3.1).
Reductions and repayment. Part 4 says the Home Office may reduce or decline an award for double recovery (4.1) or failure to mitigate loss (4.4). Under paragraph 4.5 it may do so where a claimant has been convicted of an offence and received a sentence of imprisonment of 4 years or more, and the offending was of such a nature that it makes it inappropriate to make an award in whole or part. It will normally decline an award where it is satisfied the claimant dishonestly made a false representation or dishonestly withheld information (4.7). Under paragraph 5.2, a claimant may make representations within 28 days of a notice of intention to recover an award.
Claims. A claim must be made on the form provided by the Home Office and include the minimum information listed in paragraph 6.2. It can be sent by email to windrushcompensationscheme@homeoffice.gov.uk or by post. Paragraph 6.6 allows the Home Office to pay or reimburse a probate or letters of administration fee for an estate, and to reimburse legal costs up to the lesser of the amount paid and £1,500. Under paragraph 6.22, the Home Office may suspend a claim if, within 6 months of a written request, the claimant has not provided necessary information or made contact, after notifying them in writing and allowing 2 months to respond.
What this means for applicants
Anyone making or progressing a claim can check the current rules, including the relevant Annex, against the form and evidence requirements in Part 6.
Sources
- Windrush Compensation Scheme: full rules, Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration