Ex-NI secretary presses for extension to payments deadline for Troubles victims
The UK government should act in the interests of “justice and decency” and extend a deadline to secure backdated payments under the Troubles victims’ pension scheme, a former Northern Ireland Secretary has urged.
Lord Peter Hain’s comments come as newly appointed Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn confirmed he was considering the move.
The payments scheme, which offers financial support for people who suffered physical injury or psychological trauma during the conflict, will close to new applicants in two years’ time.
But the cut-off point for one specific element of the scheme – access to a one-off tax-free payment backdated to 2014 – will come at the end of next month, on August 30th.
Applications received after that point will still be considered for the annual pension payments going forward but will not be eligible for the lump-sum backdated payment.
The previous UK government faced calls to extend the deadline, including from Labour peer Lord…
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