What Is An Interim Payment?

An interim payment is an advance payment of compensation you are owed in personal injury and medical negligence claims. It usually makes up a percentage of the expected overall compensation payout.

An interim payment is only awarded to the claimant if the other party has admitted liability for the harm caused.

How Could An Interim Payment Help You?

Interim payments can be an incredibly important financial lifeline to claimants dealing with serious injury and financial hardship. They can deal with costs that might arise while they are waiting for their claim to settle in full.

Typically, claimants may apply for an interim payment if they need immediate financial support for an issue created by the injury. For example, if you cannot cover the cost of your mortgage or rent.

They are also designed to help claimants face any financial burdens the claim process itself creates, such as the need for medical experts or travel.

Another example would be emergency money needed for essential medical care costs for someone with a brain injury. For example, they may be paralysed and need funds to install mobility aids like a ramp so that they can get in and out of their home.

a seesaw with money on one side and time on the other

How Do Interim Payments Work?

After the personal injury claim has begun, it’s possible to make an application to the court for an interim payment. This can be awarded if certain criteria are met:

The other party has admitted liability or there is a reasonable likelihood that they will be found liable if the claim proceeds to court.
There is a good reason to request part of the compensation in advance.
The amount requested is considered reasonable and is less than the total amount of compensation expected.

It is possible to receive more than one interim payment in a serious injury compensation claim, but the courts will need to consider each request on an individual basis.

What Do I Need To Apply For An Interim Payment?

Any application for interim payments must be supported by evidence, such as:

A reason for the amount of money requested, such as paying your mortgage
Proof of the amount of compensation that is likely to be awarded.
Evidence that the request is justifiable as set out in conditions 25.7 of the practice direction for pre-action protocols.
The disclosure of any other relevant matters.
Proof of general and special damage amounts that indicate the degree of past and future pain, suffering and financial harm. (Or that of the deceased if the claim is made for someone else under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976).
Financial bills and medical documents that prove the basis for the interim request.

How Much Could I Get In An Interim Payment?

Interim payments can vary based on what they are needed for. The courts must be satisfied that the advance request is ‘reasonable’, so substantiating them is important.

As stated above, the requested amount cannot exceed the total compensation that looks likely to be awarded to you. Therefore, detailed estimates and quotations can be used to request the amounts accurately and a solicitor can help with this.

MAN WITH BROKEN LEG LOOKING AT LAPTOP

How Many Interim Payments Can You Get?

There is no restriction on the amount of interim payments requested. But, they must represent a ‘reasonable proportion’ of the compensation award and will not exceed it.

If you choose to appoint a solicitor to handle your claim, they can offer expert advice on what would be considered a suitable single or multiple interim payment request and help you ask the court for it.

Do Interim Payments Affect Your Final Compensation Amount?

Interim payments impact the final compensation awarded as they are deducted from the overall compensation amount.

For example, if your award is £150,000 and you received £25,000 in interim payments, your final award would be £125,000.

Why Choose Our Panel Of Solicitors To Claim?

You are free to apply for interim payments independently if you are representing yourself in a claim. Whilst you do not need to use the services of a personal injury solicitor, their help could make the whole process much easier. For example, the solicitors on our panel are experts at negotiating the best compensation outcomes for their clients.

In addition to handling all aspects of the personal injury claims process, they can submit requests for interim payments that meet the necessary criteria. This could enable you to access much-needed funds with much less aggravation and delay.

Furthermore, they can offer these expert services through a type of No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). If you choose to appoint a solicitor under these terms there are no upfront or ongoing fees that need paying. Should the claim fail, no fees are owed to your lawyer.

A successful claim will see a small percentage deducted from the overall compensation amount. This is the solicitors ‘success fee’, designed to cover their costs, and it is restricted by law to ensure you benefit most from the outcome.

Why not discover now if an arrangement like this could help you access interim payments in your personal injury claim? Simply:

Call an adviser on 0800 408 7825 to learn more.
Complete the online contact us form.
Or use the live discussion forum below to get an immediate response.

More Resources Related To Claiming Compensation For A Personal Injury

These other resources from our website may help:

Read about accident at work time limits for claiming.
Getting specialised help with brain injury solicitors.
Advice if you have experienced a loss of earnings caused by injury.

External resources:

Here is a guide to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from GOV.UK
Information about national minimum wage from GOV.UK.
Lastly, guidance on other benefits from GOV.UK

We appreciate your interest in this guide about interim payments. Please reach out to the team for further information or advice.

Interim Payment In Personal Injury Claims Guide

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