More than 12,400 current and former postmasters have submitted claims under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS), with £863 million paid out so far, as the redress programme closed to new applications at the end of January.
Final figures released by the Post Office show that 12,463 eligible claims were submitted between the scheme’s launch in 2020 and its closure on 31 January 2026, a deadline set following a recommendation by Horizon IT Public Inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams.
Of those eligible claims, 10,940 applicants – representing 88 per cent – have received compensation offers. The Post Office said nearly £548m of the £863m total was paid out in 2025 alone, accounting for more than 63 per cent of overall payments.
The pace of settlements also accelerated significantly last year, with an eightfold increase in the number of claims resolved in 2025 compared with 2024, following changes aimed at improving efficiency and support for applicants.
These included assigning claimants a dedicated contact to provide updates and answer queries, alongside access to the Post Office’s Remediation Contact Centre.
Joanne Hanley, remediation director at the Post Office, said: “I am glad that people took the opportunity to submit their Horizon Shortfall Scheme applications ahead of the 31 January closing date.
“Our specialist teams are fully committed to processing applications as quickly as possible to bring resolution for those who have applied, and we are aiming to complete the majority of Fixed Sum Offer claims by summer 2026 and the majority of fully assessed claims by the end of the year.”
The Horizon Shortfall Scheme covers postmasters who experienced unexplained accounting shortfalls linked to the Horizon IT system but who were not part of earlier group litigation.
Applicants dissatisfied with their offer can pursue an appeal through a separate process run by the Department for Business and Trade.
The Post Office added that a late surge in submissions ahead of the deadline means the total number of claims processed may still rise as outstanding applications are reviewed, despite the scheme now being closed to new entrants.