22nd October 2026
New figures reveal the scale of Scotland's effort to acknowledge the harm suffered by children abused in care, with thousands of payments made since the scheme began in 2021. But the latest report also highlights the continuing work involved in delivering decisions, payments and apologies.
Scotland's Redress Scheme has received almost 9,700 applications during its first four and a half years, with more than £215 million paid to survivors and eligible relatives of people who experienced historical child abuse in care.
The latest official statistics, published by the Scottish Government on 20 October 2026, cover the period from December 2021 to June 2026. They provide an update on a scheme established to recognise the harm suffered by people abused as children in relevant care settings in Scotland.
By 6 June 2026, the scheme had received 9,676 applications. Of these, 96% were submitted by survivors themselves and 4% by next of kin. A total of 4,026 payments had been issued, amounting to £215,924,581 after deductions.
Behind these figures are people who may have waited decades for their experiences to be formally acknowledged.
What is Scotland's Redress Scheme?
The scheme was introduced to provide a route to financial redress for survivors of historical child abuse in care. It recognises that children who should have been protected instead suffered abuse and harm, sometimes with consequences that continued throughout their adult lives.
To qualify, the abuse must have occurred before 1 December 2004, when the person was under 18, and in a relevant care setting in Scotland.
Eligible applicants may receive a financial payment, request an apology and access emotional support. The scheme is intended to provide a trauma-informed process that recognises survivors' experiences without requiring them to pursue a civil court action to seek redress through this particular route.
The Scottish Government administers applications, gathers and verifies information, and issues payments. Redress Scotland operates independently in making decisions about eligibility and the level of financial award.
Two routes to financial redress
Survivors can apply for one of two main types of payment.
A Fixed Rate Payment of £10,000 offers a standard award. Applicants must provide evidence that they were living in a relevant care setting when the abuse occurred, but they do not have to submit documentary evidence of the abuse itself.
An Individually Assessed Payment can be worth up to £100,000, including the fixed-rate amount. It requires supporting information about the abuse, which is assessed by a panel considering factors such as its nature, severity, frequency and duration.
Eligible next of kin can also apply for a fixed payment of £10,000 in certain circumstances, where a parent or partner who experienced qualifying abuse has died.
These arrangements recognise that survivors' experiences differ, while providing a standard option for those who may find a more detailed application difficult.
What do the latest figures tell us?
The statistics show that 4,571 applications had been sent to Redress Scotland for consideration during the reporting period. Of the applications assessed by a panel, 4,250 were found eligible for financial redress and offers were made. A further 120 were found ineligible.
The resulting 97% eligibility rate applies to applications assessed by a panel, not to all 9,676 applications received. This distinction matters because some applications were still awaiting information, verification or further action.
Of the 4,026 payments issued, 2,837 were individually assessed awards, 970 were fixed-rate awards and 219 were next-of-kin awards. The rounded percentages reported by the Government were 70%, 24% and 5% respectively.
The total paid is substantial, but the figures should not be interpreted as a measure of the full cost of historical abuse. Financial awards are only one part of the scheme, and the lasting effects of abuse cannot be reduced to a monetary sum.
Apologies matter too
Financial compensation is not necessarily the only thing survivors seek. For some, an acknowledgement of what happened and an apology from the responsible organisation may be equally important.
During the first 54 months, 316 apologies were requested. By June 2026, 232 had been delivered, representing 73% of those requested.
That leaves 84 requested apologies not recorded as delivered by the end of the reporting period. The published headline figures do not, by themselves, explain the circumstances of each outstanding apology.
An apology cannot undo the harm suffered, but a meaningful acknowledgement can be an important part of recognising that children were failed by people and institutions that had a duty to protect them.
Why are some applications still waiting?
The number of applications received is considerably higher than the number of payments issued. That does not necessarily mean that the remaining applicants have been refused.
Applications can arrive incomplete, require verification or await additional information. Some applicants have paused the process or have not yet given permission for their application to be considered by Redress Scotland.
The scheme gives priority to applicants who are terminally ill and those aged over 68, recognising that waiting has particular consequences for older survivors and those with limited time.
For people who have already waited many years to have their experiences acknowledged, the time taken to process an application can be an important concern. The continuing challenge is to balance careful, consistent decisions with a process that treats applicants with dignity and avoids unnecessary delays.
An ongoing responsibility
The latest figures demonstrate that Scotland's Redress Scheme has delivered thousands of payments and formally acknowledged harm suffered by survivors of historical child abuse.
But the task is not complete simply because more than £215 million has been paid. Applications still need to be processed, decisions communicated and outstanding requests for apologies addressed.
The scheme is also a reminder of a wider responsibility: ensuring that children in care today are protected, that concerns are acted upon and that failures are not repeated.
For survivors, redress cannot restore the childhood they should have had. It can, however, provide financial recognition, an opportunity for acknowledgement and a formal response to experiences that may have remained unrecognised for decades.
The latest report measures the work completed so far. The continuing test is whether the scheme can deliver that recognition to those who are still waiting, with the care and respect their experiences deserve.
Sources
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-redress-scheme-statistics-december-2021-june-2026/
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-redress-scheme-statistics-december-2021-june-2026/