Thousands may lose out as Post Office closes main Horizon compensation scheme

Former post office workers celebrating outside the Royal Courts of Justice after their convictions were overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2021. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy

The Post Office is to close the largest compensation scheme for post office operators affected by the Horizon scandal this weekend, leaving potentially thousands of claimants out of pocket for losses produced by the faulty IT system.

The Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS), which will close for new applicants at 11.59pm on Saturday, has received more than 9,500 submissions, according to the latest public data to 19 December.