Scotland’s Redress Scheme applicants: FOI release

Information requested

The number of applicants who have died whilst waiting for a determination of their redress application.

Response

It is crucial that eligible survivors receive redress as quickly as possible and feel fully supported through the process. As of 1 August, 2024, A total of 43 individuals have died whilst awaiting a determination on their application for Redress. It is regrettable that these survivors have passed away whilst awaiting a decision.

It was recognised when Scotland’s Redress Scheme was being designed that some survivor applicants may be advancing in age or suffering ill health. Therefore, as set out in the legislation for the scheme, priority is given to applicants with a terminal illness and those aged 68 or over.

The Scottish Government set up an Advance Payment Scheme in April 2019 to run in the interim period before the full redress scheme was set up (December 2021). This was specifically focused on eligible survivors who had a terminal illness or were aged 68 or over.

Applications are received by Scottish Government with varying levels of completeness including those awaiting further information from the applicant and those requiring further verification. In some cases, individuals have not yet given us permission to send their application to Redress Scotland or have paused their application.

The Scheme also enables applicants, should they wish, to nominate a beneficiary to receive any payment in the event that the applicant dies before a redress payment is made.

A next of kin payment may also be possible where a survivor, who met the eligibility criteria for the Scheme, dies before a payment was made to them, their estate or a nominated beneficiary.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.