Frequently Asked Questions

If you filed your claim electronically, you are now able to check your real-time claim status through the DICP Submit Portal. However, if you filed your claim by mail, please continue to use the CICP call center (1-855-266-2427) or email CICP@hrsa.gov to check your claim status. If you have provided an email address to the CICP, you will also receive email notifications from CICP@hrsa.gov when your CICP claim status changes.  Please call 1-855-266-2427 to add or update your email address on an existing claim.

If you believe you or another person has been seriously injured by a covered countermeasure, you can submit a Request for Benefits by filling out the Request for Benefits Form (PDF - 245 KB) or submitting a Letter of Intent to the CICP. The letter of intent is only accepted for the purposes of meeting the filing deadline. All Request for Benefits Forms or Letters of Intent must be filed within one (1) year of receiving the countermeasure that is alleged to have caused the injury. All requesters who have submitted Letters of Intent must still file Request Forms as soon as possible.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

The Federal Register indicates that Letters of Intent are acceptable to establish that their Requests for Benefits are completed within the one-year deadline. Letters of Intent should include your full name and a statement that demonstrates your intent to submit a Request for Benefits. Please do not include any additional personal identifiable information (Social Security Number, medical, legal, or financial documents) in this letter. Letters of Intent should be submitted via U.S. Postal Service mail or a private courier at the following address or through our online portal. CICP does not accept Letters of Intent via fax or email.

Health Resources and Services Administration
Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857

However, requesters who have submitted Letters of Intent must still file Request for Benefits Forms as soon as possible.

Yes, you have ONE (1) YEAR from the date that the covered countermeasure was received to file for CICP benefits by submitting a Request for Benefits Form (PDF - 245 KB).

If an individual receives a covered countermeasure and has been seriously injured by it, a representative may submit a Request for Benefits (PDF - 245 KB) with the CICP on his/her behalf.

Please note that in cases where the injured countermeasure recipient is a minor or an adult who lacks the legal capacity to file for or receive benefits, a legal or personal representative must be used.

The CICP is not authorized to provide reimbursement for attorneys’ fees.

No, as long as other eligibility requirements are satisfied, CICP benefits may be paid without regard to United States citizenship.

Yes. Members of the Uniformed Services (i.e. the armed forces, the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service) may file a Request for Benefits. Individuals stationed at American embassies, military installations abroad, or NATO installations where American service personnel are stationed may file a Request for Benefits (PDF - 245 KB).

Learn more about the PREP Act Declarations for vaccines commonly administered to military or embassy personnel or the CICP Filing Process.

Yes. Please note that the CICP is the payer of last resort and can only reimburse or pay for medical services or items or lost employment income that are not covered by other third-party payers, such as Worker’s Compensation.

If you are determined eligible for CICP benefits, you will be asked to submit documentation of any other third-party payers.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

COVID-19 vaccines are covered countermeasures under the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP), not the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorizes the CICP to provide benefits to certain individuals or estates of individuals who sustain a covered serious physical injury as the direct result of the administration or use of covered countermeasures identified in and administered or used under a PREP Act declaration. The CICP also may provide benefits to certain survivors of individuals who die as a direct result of the administration or use of such covered countermeasures. The PREP Act declaration for medical countermeasures against COVID-19 states that the covered countermeasures are:

1. any antiviral, any drug, any biologic, any diagnostic, any other device, any respiratory protective device, or any vaccine manufactured, used, designed, developed, modified, licensed, or procured:
   1. to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, or cure COVID–19, or the transmission of SARS–CoV–2 or a virus mutating therefrom; or
   2. to limit the harm that COVID–19, or the transmission of SARS–CoV–2 or a virus mutating therefrom, might otherwise cause;
2. a product manufactured, used, designed, developed, modified, licensed, or procured to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition caused by a product described in paragraph (a) above;
3. a product or technology intended to enhance the use or effect of a product described in paragraph (a) or (b) above; or
4. any device used in the administration of any such product, and all components and constituent materials of any such product.

Covered Countermeasures must be ''qualified pandemic or epidemic products,'' or ''security countermeasures,'' or drugs, biological products, or devices authorized for investigational or emergency use, as those terms are defined in the PREP Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Public Health Service Act, or a respiratory protective device approved by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under 42 CFR part 84, or any successor regulations, that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services determines to be a priority for use during a public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act.

For a category of vaccines to be covered by the VICP, the category of vaccines must be recommended for routine administration to children or pregnant women by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, subject to an excise tax by federal law, and added to the VICP by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. No COVID-19 vaccines currently meet these criteria.

If an individual received a covered countermeasure, such as a COVID-19 vaccine, during an authorized clinical trial, the person may file a claim with the CICP as long as other eligibility requirements are satisfied.

Pursuant to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, the Secretary of HHS has issued a Declaration (and amendments) concerning medical countermeasures against COVID-19, which declared that COVID-19 vaccines are covered countermeasures for the purposes of liability protection under the PREP Act. If all requirements set forth in the Secretary's declaration are met, a covered person is immune from liability except for "willful misconduct" with respect to all claims for loss caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the manufacture, testing, development, distribution, administration, and use of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The PREP Act created the CICP to provide compensation to individuals who sustain a covered serious physical injury or death as a direct result of the administration or use of a covered countermeasure (or to estates and certain survivors of such individuals).

For more information about the PREP Act, visit the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response website.

All publicly available CICP data is online.

To request additional CICP data, please send Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to:

HRSA Freedom of Information Act Office (FOIA)
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13N112
Rockville, Maryland 20857

Generally, the following documents, including copies or mobile application screenshots, are acceptable proof of vaccination if the documentation includes the name of the vaccine recipient and date of administration:

1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card issued by the vaccination site to the person who received the vaccine.
2. Official record from the State Immunization Information System (IIS) or other State immunization registry.
3. A record from a healthcare system or healthcare provider’s patient portal, signed by the treating healthcare provider, that documents vaccination by the healthcare system or healthcare provider. A healthcare provider is typically a:
   1. Licensed physician
   2. Nurse practitioner
   3. Physician assistant
   4. Registered nurse
   5. Pharmacist
4. A record from a healthcare provider’s medical record system (including a patient portal) that is either a:
   1. Vaccine Administration Record from the facility where the vaccine was administered that includes the:
      1. Vaccine administered
      2. Vaccination date
      3. Vaccine lot number
   2. Vaccination Administration Record from a facility other than where the vaccine was administered that includes the:
      1. Vaccine administered
      2. Vaccination date
      3. Vaccine lot number
   3. Healthcare provider order for COVID-19 vaccination that is signed as administered
   4. The vaccine administration is noted in the medical record by the treating healthcare providers (not the vaccine administrators) in the context of an adverse event meeting the following criteria:
      1. The adverse event immediately follows the vaccination.
      2. The adverse event results in emergent healthcare.
      3. The person who received the vaccine is transported via ambulance from a vaccination site to a hospital.
5. A military immunization or health record from the United States Armed Forces
6. Documentation of a COVID-19 vaccine dispensed from a pharmacy to the person receiving the vaccine

If you qualify for CICP benefits, you may be compensated for:

• Medical expenses (unreimbursed/out-of-pocket medical expenses that are reasonable and necessary to diagnose or treat your covered injury and to diagnose, treat, or prevent its health complications)
• Lost employment income
• Survivor death benefits*

*See the section for Survivors if you fall under this category.

Please note that the CICP is the payer of last resort and can only reimburse or pay for medical services or items, or lost employment income that are not covered by other third-party payers, such as health insurance, Veterans Affairs benefits, or Workers’ Compensation.

Learn more about the Types of Benefits available.

In order to complete a medical review for eligibility, the CICP requires your complete medical records, including for those visits to primary care providers and specialists, consultations, and hospitalizations, as well as the immunization record in the case of vaccine injuries.

You must submit medical records dating from one year prior to the receipt of the covered countermeasure until the present, so that the CICP can assess your total health picture before, and after, your alleged injury occurred. For example, if you received an anthrax vaccine on November 1, 2011, you must send your entire medical record from November 1, 2010, to the present.

You must also complete an Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information Form for each healthcare provider (e.g. doctor, specialist, or hospital) you saw during the time frame indicated above and request that they send your records to the CICP. You must also submit a copy of each Form to the CICP so that the Program knows which medical records to expect. If your healthcare provider(s) prefers that you request medical records using their own authorization form, the CICP will accept a copy of that form.

For security reasons, the CICP does not accept medical records sent by email.

The CICP will not begin its review of your Request for Benefits until all records are received.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

The time it takes to process a Request for Benefits varies by case. The case review begins when the CICP receives all of your expected medical records and any other required documentation. A delay in sending complete medical records to the CICP will delay the processing of your case. Once all of your medical records are received, your case will be put in queue to be reviewed. Since a thorough, individualized review is required to determine your eligibility, the time it takes for the CICP to process a Request for Benefits depends partly on the complexity of your case. The CICP will communicate with you periodically to provide you with updates on the status of your case or to request needed information.

No. The CICP is not authorized to provide reimbursement for attorneys’ fees. You may elect to use an attorney; however, you are responsible for any costs incurred from using one.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

Yes. If you received a vaccine or countermeasure covered under the CICP and you also received a vaccine covered under the VICP, but you are unsure which vaccine may have caused your injury, then you may file in either or both programs. Depending on your circumstances, you may not receive compensation from either or both programs.

The CICP covers several vaccines and countermeasures designated for use during pandemic, epidemic, and security threats. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) covers vaccines that are recommended for routine use.

Learn more about CICP Covered Countermeasures or the VICP .

If your Request for Benefits is postmarked more than one (1) year after receiving the covered countermeasure, you will not be considered for CICP benefits. In some cases, an immunization record is required to establish the date of the countermeasure administration.

If you miss the filing deadline, you may request reconsideration of your case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Health Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-37
Rockville, MD 20857

If the CICP determines that you are not eligible for benefits, you may request reconsideration of your case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Health Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-37
Rockville, MD 20857

If an individual qualifies for CICP benefits, that person may be compensated for:

• Medical expenses (unreimbursed/out-of-pocket medical expenses that are reasonable and necessary to diagnose or treat your covered injury and to diagnose, treat, or prevent its health complications)
• Lost employment income
• Survivor death benefits*

*See the section for Survivors if you fall under this category.

Please note that the CICP is the payer of last resort and can only reimburse or pay for medical services or items, or lost employment income that are not covered by other third-party payers, such as health insurance, Veterans Affairs benefits, or Workers’ Compensation.

Learn more about the Types of Benefits available.

In order to complete a medical review for eligibility, the CICP requires the injured countermeasure recipient’s complete medical records, including primary care visits, specialists, consultations, and hospitalizations, as well as the immunization record in the case of vaccine injuries. The representative must submit medical records dating back one year prior to the receipt of the covered countermeasure until the present, so that the CICP can assess the injured countermeasure recipient’s total health picture before, and after, the alleged injury occurred. For example, if he/she received an anthrax vaccine on November 1, 2011, the representative must send his/her entire medical record from November 1, 2010, to the present.

The representative or the injured countermeasure recipient must complete an Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information Form for each healthcare provider (e.g. doctor, specialist, or hospital) the injured countermeasure recipient saw during the time frame indicated above, and request that the records be sent to the CICP. The representative must also submit a duplicate copy of each Form to the CICP so that the Program knows which medical records to expect. If the healthcare provider(s) prefers that the medical records be requested using their own authorization form, the CICP will accept a copy of that form.

For security reasons, the CICP does not accept medical records sent by email.

The CICP will not begin a medical review until all records are received.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

The time it takes to process a Request for Benefits varies by case. The case review can begin when the CICP receives all of the injured countermeasure recipient’s expected medical records and any other required documentation. A delay in sending complete medical records to the CICP will delay the processing of the case. Once all of the medical records are submitted, the case will be put in queue to be reviewed. Since a thorough, individualized review is required to determine eligibility, the time it takes for the CICP to process a Request for Benefits depends on the complexity of the case. The CICP will communicate with the representative periodically to provide updates on the status of the case or to request needed information.

Yes. If an injured countermeasure recipient received a vaccine or countermeasure covered under the CICP and also received a vaccine covered under the VICP, but it is not clear which vaccine may have caused his/her injury, then the representative may file in either or both programs. Depending on the circumstances, the injured individual may not receive compensation from either or both programs.

The CICP covers several vaccines and countermeasures designated for use during pandemic, epidemic, and security threats. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) covers vaccines that are recommended for routine use.

Learn more about CICP Covered Countermeasures or the VICP.

If a Request for Benefits is postmarked more than one (1) year after the injured countermeasure recipient received the covered countermeasure, he/she will not be considered for CICP benefits. In some cases, an immunization record is required to establish the date of the countermeasure administration.

If an individual misses the filing deadline, you may request reconsideration of their case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857

If the CICP determines that an individual is not eligible for benefits, you may request reconsideration of his/her case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857

If an individual was injured by a covered countermeasure and has died, the administrator of the estate of that individual may receive compensation, regardless of the cause of death. The estate may receive the deceased countermeasure recipient’s undisbursed payments for:

• Medical expenses (unreimbursed/out-of-pocket medical expenses that were reasonable and necessary to diagnose or treat the covered injury and to diagnose, treat, or prevent its health complications)
• Lost employment income

The CICP is the payer of last resort and can only reimburse or pay for medical services, items or lost employment income that are not covered by other third-party payers, such as health insurance.

If an injured countermeasure recipient dies and you wish to file for benefits on their behalf, you may submit a Request for Benefits (PDF - 316 KB).

If the injured countermeasure recipient submits a Request for Benefits and then dies, you may amend their Request Package to request the benefits that they would be eligible to receive.

Please see the next section for detailed instructions on how to file as the administrator of the estate of a deceased countermeasure recipient.

Learn more about the Types of Benefits available.

If you are an administrator of the estate of a deceased injured countermeasure recipient, you must submit the following:

1. A completed Request for Benefits Form (PDF - 316 KB) filed within one (1) year of the receipt of the covered countermeasure.
2. A death certificate for the deceased countermeasure recipient. If the death certificate is not available, then the administrator or executor of the estate must submit a letter providing the reasons why it is not available.
3. Documentation showing you are the administrator or executor of the estate of the deceased countermeasure recipient (e.g. Letter of Administration from a court).
4. If not previously submitted, the deceased injured countermeasure recipient’s complete medical records, including primary care visits, specialists, consultations, hospitalizations, as well as the immunization record in the case of vaccine injuries.
5. Any other documentation to show that the deceased person had received a covered countermeasure and sustained a covered injury.

You must submit medical records dating back one year prior to the receipt of the covered countermeasure until the time of death, so that the CICP can assess the deceased injured countermeasure recipient’s total health picture.

You must also complete an Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information Form for each healthcare provider (e.g. doctor, specialist, hospital) the deceased injured countermeasure recipient saw during the time frame indicated above and request that they send the records to the CICP. You must also submit a duplicate copy of each Form to the CICP so that the Program knows which medical records to expect. If the healthcare provider(s) prefers that you request medical records using their own authorization form, the CICP will accept a copy of that form.

For security reasons, the CICP does not accept medical records sent by email.

The CICP will not begin a medical review until all records are received.

If an injured countermeasure recipient submits a complete Request for Benefits Package and then dies before eligibility is determined and you are the administrator of their estate, please contact the CICP at 301-443-9350 for guidance on amending a Request for Benefits.

The time it takes to process a Request for Benefits varies by case. When medical records are required to be submitted for a deceased injured countermeasure recipient, the case review can begin when the CICP receives all of the expected medical records. If the administrator of the estate is not required to submit medical records because the records have been previously submitted, the case review can begin when all new required documents are received. A delay in sending complete medical records or documents to the CICP will delay the processing of the case. Once all of the medical records and/or other documents are submitted, the case will be put in queue to be reviewed. Since a thorough, individualized review is required to determine eligibility, the time it takes for the CICP to process a Request for Benefits depends on the complexity of the case. The CICP will communicate with you periodically to provide updates on the status of the case or to request information that may be missing.

No. The CICP is not authorized to provide reimbursement for attorneys’ fees. You may elect to use an attorney; however, you would be responsible for any costs incurred from using one.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

Yes. If a deceased injured countermeasure recipient received a vaccine or countermeasure covered under the CICP and also received vaccine covered under the VICP, but you are unsure which vaccine may have caused his/her injury, then you may file in either or both programs. Depending on the circumstances, you may not receive compensation from either or both programs.

The CICP covers several vaccines and countermeasures designated for use during pandemic, epidemic, and security threats. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) covers vaccines that are recommended for routine use.

Learn more about CICP Covered Countermeasures or the VICP.

If the original Request for Benefits is postmarked more than one (1) year after the deceased injured countermeasure recipient received a covered countermeasure, the survivor(s) will be ineligible for CICP benefits. In some cases, an immunization record is required to establish the date of the countermeasure administration.

If you miss the filing deadline, you may request reconsideration of the case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857

If the CICP determines that the case does not qualify for benefits, you may request reconsideration of your case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857

A survivor death benefit is available only to the survivor(s) of an individual who received a covered countermeasure and died as a result of injuries from the covered countermeasure.

The CICP is the payer of last resort and can only pay a death benefit after other third-party payers have disbursed death benefits.

Learn more about the Types of Benefits available.

If you are a survivor of a deceased countermeasure recipient, you must submit the following:

1. A completed Request for Benefits Form filed within one (1) year of the receipt of the covered countermeasure.
2. A death certificate for the deceased injured countermeasure recipient. If the death certificate is not available, then a survivor must submit a letter providing the reasons why it is not available.
3. Documentation showing you are an eligible survivor, such as a birth or marriage certificate.
4. If not previously submitted, the deceased injured countermeasure recipient’s complete medical records, including primary care visits, specialists, consultations, hospitalizations, as well as the immunization record in the case of vaccine injuries.
5. Any other documentation to show that the deceased person had received a covered countermeasure and sustained a covered injury.

You must submit medical records dating back one year prior to the receipt of the covered countermeasure until the time of death, so that the CICP can assess the deceased injured countermeasure recipient’s total health picture.

You must also complete an Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information Form for each healthcare provider (e.g. doctor, specialist, hospital) the deceased injured countermeasure recipient saw during the time frame indicated above and request that they send the records to the CICP. You must also submit a duplicate copy of each Form to the CICP so that the Program knows which medical records to expect. If the healthcare provider(s) prefers that you request medical records using their own authorization form, the CICP will accept a copy of that form.

For security reasons, the CICP does not accept medical records sent by email.

The CICP will not begin a medical review until all records are received.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

The time it takes to process a Request for Benefits varies by case. When medical records are required to be submitted for a deceased injured countermeasure recipient, the case review can begin when the CICP receives all of the expected medical records. If the survivor is not required to submit medical records because the records have been previously submitted, the case review can begin when all new required documents are received. A delay in sending complete medical records or documents to the CICP will delay the processing of the case. Once all of the medical records and/or other documents are submitted, the case will be put in queue to be reviewed. Since a thorough, individualized review is required to determine eligibility, the time it takes for the CICP to process a Request for Benefits depends on the complexity of the case. The CICP will communicate with you periodically to provide updates on the status of the case or to request information that may be missing.

No. The CICP is not authorized to provide reimbursement for attorneys’ fees. You may elect to use an attorney; however, you would be responsible for any costs incurred from using one.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

Yes. If a deceased injured countermeasure recipient received a vaccine or countermeasure covered under the CICP and also received vaccine covered under the VICP, but you are unsure which vaccine may have caused his/her injury, then you may file in either or both programs. Depending on the circumstances, you may not receive compensation from either or both programs.

The CICP covers several vaccines and countermeasures designated for use during pandemic, epidemic, and security threats. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) covers vaccines that are recommended for routine use.

Learn more about CICP Covered Countermeasures or the VICP .

If the original Request for Benefits is postmarked more than one (1) year after the deceased injured countermeasure recipient received a covered countermeasure, the survivor(s) will be ineligible for CICP benefits. In some cases, an immunization record is required to establish the date of the countermeasure administration.

If you miss the filing deadline, you may request reconsideration of the case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857

If the CICP determines that the case does not qualify for benefits, you may request reconsideration of your case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857