Urgent Action Needed on Windrush Compensation as Survivors Speak of “Waiting to Die”

Published: 05 September. the English Chronicle Desk. English Chronicle Online

Calls for immediate reform of the Windrush compensation scheme have intensified as survivors continue to report severe delays and inadequate support, with some saying they feel the Home Office is “waiting for us to die.” Rev Clive Foster, the Windrush commissioner, has written to the migration and equalities minister, Seema Malhotra, and shared his concerns with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, highlighting that 66 claimants have died while awaiting compensation.

Launched in 2019, the compensation scheme has faced persistent criticism over delays, opaque processes, and repeated rejections, despite repeated government assurances that payments would be expedited. Foster, who assumed the role of commissioner in June, acknowledged recent improvements and Malhotra’s personal commitment, yet he emphasized that survivors continue to experience lengthy waits, unclear outcomes, and significant emotional distress navigating the system.

In his letter, Foster stresses that, given the age and health of many claimants, reform is urgent. “Justice must be delivered in their lifetimes,” he writes, noting that survivors frequently express a belief that the Home Office is deliberately delaying payouts until they pass away. While Foster does not share that view personally, he insists it is crucial that ministers hear it directly.

Foster has recommended a series of reforms aimed at providing better support for survivors. He urges the creation of a trauma-informed, accessible application process and calls for compensation that reflects pension losses and future earnings. To address the risk of claimants dying before resolution, he suggests partial payments be issued while cases undergo review, prioritizing applicants by age and health. He also proposes clear performance indicators for the scheme, including average processing times and satisfaction levels, to be publicly reported.

Although the government introduced a £1.5 million advocacy fund in April to assist survivors, campaigners continue to demand access to legal aid. Foster has raised concerns about the funding and effectiveness of this scheme, advocating an independent review of cases that received no award, compensation adjustments, and long-standing claims. Survivors have described the application process as overwhelming and re-traumatizing, with challenges including insensitive communication, difficulty proving harm, and emotional distress when receiving nil awards.

Foster also highlighted serious issues faced by Windrush survivors stranded abroad. He noted the case of George Lee, who spent 28 years in Poland before being allowed to return to the UK, and 81-year-old Hannah Dankwa, stranded in Ghana in ill health, whose emergency travel document was only recently issued. These cases, he said, underscore ongoing problems within Home Office culture and a lack of sufficient support for affected individuals overseas.

Additionally, Foster emphasized the need for urgent progress on reviewing pension losses, a promise made by Cooper nearly a year ago, noting that many survivors continue to face economic hardship from lost pensions and forced absence from work—factors not yet adequately reflected in current compensation awards.

A government source confirmed that immediate work is being commissioned to address the points raised by Foster. A Home Office spokesperson stated that his appointment aims to drive lasting change across government, with the department committed to correcting the injustices of the scandal. “We thank Rev Foster for his initial recommendations, many of which we are already implementing, and ministers will meet with him shortly to discuss further improvements to our schemes,” the spokesperson added.