Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Request

1) Since March 2020, how many applications or appeals for Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) reimbursement have been approved despite the applicant not holding an eligible health and social care SOC code?

2) Of these successful cases, how many were approved based on evidence of direct health or social care duties and/or the employers eligibility rather than the SOC code?

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 10 September 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Our response

I am writing to advise you that following a search of our paper and electronic records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. This is because SOC codes are not a requirement as part of the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) reimbursement process.

Advice and assistance

For further details, please refer to the GOV.UK website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-health-surcharge-applying-for-a-refund/immigration-health-surcharge-guidance-for-reimbursement-2020. Specifically, section titled ‘Reimbursement process Annex A: eligibility criteria’.