By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 28th July 2025. At times, it can be difficult to understand legal terms and how they could apply to yourself. Simply put, a personal injury claim interim payment is an amount that is given to you before the settlement of your case. Injuries can come with serious expenses, such as payments for medical expenses and lost income due to time taken off work to recover. Some claimants find themselves in a position where it would be difficult to wait for their compensation claim to conclude.
In this guide, we help you to answer the question, ‘What does an interim payment mean?’. Additionally, we outline when the court may order an interim payment and the conditions that apply.
Furthermore, we explain why you might seek an interim payment and examine how personal injury compensation might be calculated. You can also learn whether interim payments impact your benefits and your final payout.
Finally, we explain how one of our expert personal injury solicitors could help you with a No Win No Fee agreement. They are experienced in dealing with such claims, allowing them to navigate the legal process and support you in making decisions that will help you gain compensation.
If you have any queries about personal injury claims and how to request an interim payment, get in touch with our team of advisors. They can offer you a free initial consultation and explain anything you are unsure of:
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Use the pop-up on this webpage for a live chat
- Submit an online ‘contact us‘ form
Select A Section
- What Does Interim Payment Mean?
- When Can Courts Order An Interim Payment?
- Conditions Set Out In CPR 25.7(1)
- Why Apply For A Personal Injury Claim Interim Payment?
- Personal Injury Claim Interim Payment – How Much Could You Get?
- Do Interim Payments Affect Your Benefits?
- How Do Personal Injury Claim Interim Payments Affect Your Final Payout?
- Personal Injury Claim Calculator
- No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claims
- Essential References
What Does Interim Payment Mean?
An interim payment in personal injury law is basically an advance on your compensation. When you are seriously injured, you might need your compensation as soon as possible to help pay for things like medical treatments, professional care, childcare, and more.
Usually, you’ll only be able to get an interim payment if the other party has already accepted liability, and you have a clear reason for needing your compensation sooner.
For example, if you were paralysed in a car accident and need the funds to pay for rehabilitation or assisted living, the courts may grant you a portion of your compensation in the interim to cover these costs.
When your claim is resolved, your interim payment will be deducted from your compensation.
For more information on interim payments or to find out if you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim, contact our team today.
When Can Courts Order An Interim Payment?
Courts may instruct for an interim payment to be made to you or a loved one if it is clear that the other party is ultimately liable or that compensation is inevitable and you need the funds urgently. In cases of severe injury, the victim may suffer life-altering injuries. To function at home, it might be necessary to make expensive modifications to the home or purchase a medically altered vehicle.
These costs can run into the tens of thousands. If satisfied on the grounds of necessity, the courts may order the other party to pay some of the compensation money to the claimant so as not to delay the provision of these essential changes.
However, the defendant may argue or resist this request on the grounds that the case has not been finally decided or that there are mitigating reasons, such as split liability or contributory negligence. This is when the other party claims you did something to contribute to your accident and injury. In cases like this, the courts will assess the amount being asked for and the reasonableness of the defendant’s grievance about paying.
Conditions Set Out In CPR 25.7(1)?
There are various conditions attached to requesting an interim payment. Generally, certain conditions must be satisfied and matters taken into account in order for the courts to issue an interim payment to the claimant. Evidence will likely be needed to establish what an interim payment would be used for, along with reasons being satisfied in accordance with Rule 25.7 of The Civil Procedure Rules 1998.
Speak to a member of our team about any conditions you may have concerns about in your case. Their advice is free, and there’s no obligation to proceed with a case unless you wish to.
Why Apply For A Personal Injury Claim Interim Payment?
As discussed, the costs attached to modifying your life or that of a loved one after a serious accident can be huge. Costs such as this can be urgent as well. In addition to medical treatments and equipment, 24-hour care help can cost thousands of pounds a month. The injuries may mean that the victim requires help like this for the rest of their life.
Furthermore, some claims can take a long time to settle. Your need for constant help with domestic issues or the costs of expensive treatments could go on for months or even years. Even after admitting liability, the courts may need to wait for medical details or other documents. A lawyer can help guide your requests for interim payments and explain what needs to be produced in order to receive these.
Interim payments can purchase the necessary things to make you as comfortable as possible during this difficult time. Interim payments can meet those bills immediately. This can enable you to recover quicker.
Personal Injury Claim Interim Payment – How Much Could You Get?
Understandably, the questions we get about interim payments are often ‘What percentage is an interim payment of my overall compensation?’ or ‘How much can I get from an interim payment?’ These are valid questions because, as we have discussed, interim payments carry out a vital function in a personal injury claim.
As each case is unique, there is no set compensation figure. There is also no strict limit to the percentage of compensation that can be set aside for an interim payment, meaning that what you receive depends entirely on your individual circumstances.
A personal injury claim interim payment should be based on the likely compensation award. It should also be a ‘reasonable proportion’ of this projected figure. That is true for each interim payment, if you are eligible to get more than one.
If you have an expert solicitor working on your case, they will be able to give guidance on what a reasonable interim payment in a personal injury claim should be.
For more advice, simply call our free helpline today and we can discuss what you might be able to receive.
Do Interim Payments Affect Your Benefits?
Interim payments do not have a bearing on any state benefits that you may be in receipt of for 12 months. You may set up a personal injury trust at this time. After this time, unused money may be subject to inclusion against benefit entitlement. Also, amounts that were spent too quickly can be regarded as an act of self-impoverishment, which the Department for Work and Pensions may investigate.
In other words, the amounts you are given should be spent carefully and correctly. Your personal injury lawyer may be best to advise you in this respect.
How Do Personal Injury Claim Interim Payments Affect Your Final Payout?
Personal injury claim interim payments are effectively portions of your compensation in advance. At the conclusion of your case, all the interim payments that you have received are totalled up and deducted from the final amount. Other relevant deductions that relate to any costs associated with your case may also be made. If you receive benefits, the Department of Work and Pensions may seek certain amounts back.
Personal Injury Claim Calculator
The ultimate award you may receive depends on evidence for two types of damages. The first, general damages, are those that may acknowledge the impact of:
- Pain and suffering caused by your injuries
- Loss of amenity, essentially the effect on your day-to-day activities
- Damage to long-term health
- Risk of mental health issues
- Disfigurement or deformity
Looking at a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines, your solicitor can refer to the suggestive compensation brackets it publishes for specific injuries to help assess general damages. The results of an independent medical assessment may also be used in the calculation of this part of a compensation claim.
The table below offers a brief selection of brackets. Please note that the first row was not taken from the JCG, and the brackets aren’t a guarantee of how you might be compensated in a successful claim.
| Injury | Award bracket from JCG |
|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries + Special Damages (e.g. Private Medical Treatments) | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Paralysis - Tetraplegia | £396,140 to £493,000 |
| Paralysis - Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 |
| Very Severe Brain Damage | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | £267,340 to £344,150 |
| Total Blindness | In the region of £327,940 |
| Severe Back Injuries (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Severe Neck Injuries (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Severe Arm Injuries | £117,360 to £159,770 |
Special Damages
In addition to general damages, you can use evidence that relates to the financial costs of your injuries. When confronted by a sudden injury, a whole range of outgoings can present themselves. For example, you may have a sudden demand for money because:
- You cannot work
- You may never be able to work at your previous job again
- The need for expensive medical equipment
- Necessary alterations or adaptations to your home
- Care – in some cases, 24-hour care for life
- Medicine or private treatment
- Physiotherapy or counselling
Speak about your claim with our team if you have costs associated with your injuries, but you are unsure as to whether they might apply. It’s a free call and there’s no obligation to continue with a claim.
No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claims
Our solicitors have successfully taken on No Win No Fee personal injury claims across the country. No Win No Fee contracts offer a financially accessible route to legal representation.
A Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) is an example of a contract that works on this basis. By signing a CFA, you would agree not to pay any solicitor fees:
- Before your personal injury claim begins
- While your case is being assessed
- In the event that you are not awarded compensation
It is important to note that if you do receive compensation, you must pay a success fee. This is a legally capped percentage of the compensation that is owed to your solicitor for their work. The cap ensures that you keep the largest share of the compensation.
If you decide to sign a CFA, one of our solicitors could benefit your case by:
- Helping you to apply for a personal injury claim interim payment
- Assisting with the collection of evidence that will strengthen your claim for compensation
- Handling any required communication with the defending party on your behalf
- Negotiating with expertise and professionalism to secure compensation that fairly reflects your pain and suffering
These advantages are just a snapshot of the main services offered by our solicitors. All our legal representatives tailor their approach to meet the unique needs of every client, so you can rest assured that one will do the same for you.
Start A Personal Injury Claim
When you get in touch, our advisors can assess your case and offer practical advice. They can discuss your case and help you get started with your claim right away. Get in touch by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Using the pop-up on this webpage for a live chat
- Submitting an online ‘contact us‘ form
Essential References
At Legal Expert, we can help with many different types of compensation claims. Get further information by using our other personal injury claim guides below:
- Success Fee Calculations In Personal Injury Claims
- Chopping Or Slicing Injury Claims
- HAVS Compensation Claims
For more advice on personal injury claims and interim payments, please get in touch.
