Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals (HSSA): What you need to know
15th October, 2025
Following the widely publicised case of Post Office Limited's handling of the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS), it was announced by the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) in September 2024 that they would be setting up and opening up the Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals (HSSA) process.
The Horizon Shortfall Scheme was set up to provide resolutions for sub-postmasters that suffered due to the error of the Horizon system, but were not members of the original group litigation. With the announcement of the HSSA in September 2024, guidance from the Department for Business and Trade was set to follow.
After numerous meetings between the DBT and potential claimant solicitors, Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals guidance was finally published in April 2025. The HSSA was opened up to the applicants whose claims are still ongoing within the HSS and where mediation had not been requested.
The scheme has also been opened up to applicants who have previously settled their claims within the HSS but now wish to challenge the award made, with letters now being sent out to hundreds of sub-postmasters.
To be eligible for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeal, you need to have entered the HSS in the first instance (this can still be done), not accepted the £75,000 fixed sum offer, and either:
- you have settled your claim in the HSS without entering the Dispute Resolution Process
- you have rejected your initial HSS offer without entering the Dispute Resolution Process
- you have settled your claim in the DRP before mediation stage without legal advice funded by Post Office, other than for reasonable allowances to consider your offer
Ward Hadaway are one of a handful of firms with experience of dealing with sub-postmaster claims resulting from the faults of the Horizon IT system, have had a presence at all the meetings held by the DBT when discussing the appeals process, and have agreed to the fixed fee for the process that will ultimately be paid by the DBT if the claim is eligible for review. Official guidance for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals process can be found on the Government website.
Should you wish to discuss your previous settlement and seek advice in relation to entering the appeals process, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Neil Armitage.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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