Displaying items by tag: Windrush compensation

Victims and campaigners are calling for faster and increased payouts from the Windrush compensation scheme, established five years ago by the Home Office. This was set up in response to the scandal where thousands of British residents were mistakenly identified as illegal immigrants, leading to wrongful deportations and denials of basic rights. As of January, over £80 million has been distributed across 2,233 claims, but delays raise concerns, particularly for the elderly. Jacqueline McKenzie, working with over 400 victims, has said the Home Office needs to expedite decisions, citing re-traumatisation among the victims, many of whom have already died. Anjali, whose late father Singh was a victim, received his compensation posthumously, a year after his death. Singh faced homelessness and deportation threats due to his unverified UK status. The Home Office says that the scheme will remain open indefinitely; over 82% of claims have been concluded, with ongoing efforts to maximise and expedite awards.