KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United Kingdom’s Home Office is expected to start making payments as part of the Windrush scandal compensation scheme soon.

The UK media reported that Home Secretary Sajid Javid, in a written statement to Parliament, said: “The compensation scheme has been open to receive claims since April 2019 and the Home Office is now in a position to start making payments.

“I am committed to providing members of the Windrush generation with assurance that they will be appropriately and promptly compensated where it is shown that they have been disadvantaged by historical Government policy.”

Javid in April said he launched the scheme to “right the wrongs” of the scandal.

Thousands of victims, many of them Jamaicans, will share in an estimated £200 million fund under the two-year initiative after facing difficulties demonstrating their immigration status.

The Home Office said up to 15,000 eligible claims are expected to be lodged.

The UK’s ITV News reported that Javid told MPs there would be no cap on the total amount awarded and the £200 million figure was a “baseline estimate”.

It also said the funds will not be split between victims, as each application will be assessed individually and a level of payout decided.

An official impact assessment said the final figure could range between £120 million and £310 million, reported ITV.