Last Chance: Claim Your COVID-19 Business Interruption Compensation Before It’s Too Late!

Key takeaways

• The deadline to submit COVID-19 Business Interruption (BI) claims is March 2026
• Recent legal changes mean more businesses may now qualify for compensation
• Review your BI policy and seek expert advice to assess your eligibility
• Act quickly—claims submitted after the deadline will not be considered
  
  

Fenchurch Law, a top UK firm, has reminded us that policyholders might need to consider submitting any remaining Covid-19 business interruption (BI) claims before the March 2026 deadline.

This marks the end of the five-year window for these claims to be brought.

Over the past few years, legal disputes over BI policy wordings have led to broader interpretations, meaning more businesses may now qualify for compensation related to losses during the early stages of the pandemic.

As we approach March 2026, businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and who had Business Interruption (BI) insurance policies in place in March 2020 – when the national lockdown was ordered – need to contact their brokers to establish whether there may be further cover now available. After this date, policyholders may be legally barred from pursuing compensation for pandemic-related losses.

What should you do now? 

• Review your policy: examine your BI insurance wording, especially clauses related to “non-damage denial of access” and pandemic exclusions
• Get expert advice: we would recommend that you consult a solicitor to assess your eligibility and to prepare your claim
• Notify promptly: claims must be initiated before the limitation period expires to avoid being time-barred
• Gather evidence: compile financial records, closure notices, and any correspondence with your insurer at the time

Insurers acted quickly to add exclusions to any policies placed after March 2020 but any placed prior to lockdown might provide cover.

Many businesses, particularly in hospitality, retail and leisure were among the hardest hit during the pandemic. If your business suffered losses and you haven’t yet explored your BI coverage, now is the time. Once the limitation period passes, your opportunity to recover those losses may be gone for good.

Please note that if you are a Partners& client, your dedicated Adviser can assist, and our Claims Advisers can submit a claim on your behalf, but we cannot provide legal advice on the validity of your claim. 

If you’re not a Partners& client, we recommend you contact your broker, adviser or insurance provider directly as soon as possible.

Find out more about Business Interruption cover here or talk to our friendly team.