Form EPL4 UK: Interim Settlement Pack Guide
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If you are handling a low value personal injury claim running through the Pre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury (Employers' Liability and Public Liability) Claims, Form EPL4 is likely to land on your desk at some point. It sits at the interim stage of the process, after liability has been admitted but before the parties are ready to settle the whole claim.
The form gives both sides a structured way to exchange information about losses incurred so far and to negotiate an interim payment while the rest of the claim, often the medical evidence, continues to develop. This guide walks through what the form does, who uses it, and the key points claimants and defendants should think about when completing or responding to it. It covers claims valued between £1,000 and £25,000 in the employers' liability and public liability portal.
What this document is
Form EPL4 is the Interim Settlement Pack and Response used in the EL/PL Portal process for low value personal injury claims. It is the mechanism through which a claimant can request an interim payment to cover losses that have already crystallised, such as lost earnings, treatment costs or out-of-pocket expenses, while the claim has not yet reached a stage where full and final settlement can be negotiated.
A typical scenario is where a claimant has suffered a longer term injury and is still undergoing treatment or waiting for a final medical report. The form sets out the claimant's stated losses to date, supporting evidence, and the amount being requested by way of interim payment.
The defendant then uses the response section to indicate which heads of loss are agreed, which are disputed, and whether any interim payment will be offered. It is a negotiation document, not a final settlement record, and anything agreed through it sits on account of the eventual total award.
How to use this document
- Confirm the claim is still on the EL/PL Portal track. Before completing Form EPL4, make sure the claim has not dropped out of the portal due to liability being denied, limitation issues, or the value exceeding the upper limit. The interim settlement pack is only relevant where the claim remains within the protocol and an interim payment is genuinely needed because the claim is not yet ready to conclude.
- Gather evidence of losses to date. The claimant should pull together payslips, receipts, invoices, travel records, care diaries, and any medical reports already obtained. Each head of loss listed on the form needs to be supported by documentation. Without proper evidence, the defendant has a fair basis to dispute the figures, and negotiations over an interim payment can stall before they start.
- Complete the claimant sections accurately. Fill in the contact details, case reference, date of notification, and the itemised schedule of losses. Be clear about what is past loss and what remains ongoing. State the interim payment sum you are requesting and explain the reasoning, such as covering treatment costs or replacing lost income while the final prognosis is awaited.
- Send the pack and await the defendant response. Once the claimant side is complete, the pack is sent to the compensator through the portal. The defendant then has a set period under the protocol to respond, agreeing or disputing each head of loss and confirming whether they will make an interim payment, and if so how much. Keep an eye on the protocol timetable so nothing drifts.
- Negotiate or escalate where appropriate. If the defendant agrees an interim payment, the funds are paid on account of the eventual settlement. If the parties cannot agree, the claimant may need to consider applying to court for an interim payment order, or pressing on with the substantive claim until a Stage 3 hearing or full settlement can be achieved.
Common questions
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Common questions
Q Who uses Form EPL4?
Form EPL4 is used by claimants and defendants involved in personal injury claims that started through the EL/PL Portal, typically valued between u00a31,000 and u00a325,000. It is most often completed by the claimant's legal representative and served on the insurer acting for the employer or occupier. Either side can prompt its use, but in practice it is the claimant who initiates the interim settlement request.
Q When should an interim payment be requested?
An interim payment usually makes sense where liability has been admitted but the claim is not yet ready to settle, often because the claimant's medical position is still evolving. If there are significant past losses, such as lost wages or treatment costs, that the claimant is out of pocket for, requesting a payment on account through Form EPL4 can relieve financial pressure without prejudicing the final settlement figure.
Q Does the defendant have to agree an interim payment?
No. The defendant is not obliged to agree to the interim sum requested and can dispute individual heads of loss or offer a lower figure. If the parties cannot reach agreement through the form, the claimant may consider applying to court for an interim payment order under the Civil Procedure Rules, provided the usual conditions for such an order are met.
Q What happens if liability is disputed?
The Interim Settlement Pack is only appropriate where liability has been admitted and the claim remains within the EL/PL Portal. If the defendant denies liability, the claim drops out of the portal and is handled through the standard pre-action protocol and, if necessary, court proceedings. In that situation Form EPL4 is not the right document to use.
Q Does an interim payment affect the final settlement?
Any interim payment made through Form EPL4 is paid on account of the final settlement. It reduces the balance due when the claim eventually settles or is decided at a Stage 3 hearing. It does not cap or determine the overall compensation figure, which will be assessed based on the full evidence, including the final medical report and all heads of loss.
Q What evidence should be included with the claimant's losses?
The claimant should attach documentary evidence for each loss claimed. This can include payslips and employer statements for lost earnings, receipts and invoices for treatment or travel, care records for assistance provided by family members, and any interim medical reports. Strong evidence makes it harder for the defendant to dispute the figures and usually leads to a quicker, more realistic interim offer.
Q What if the claim value turns out to be more than u00a325,000?
If it becomes clear the claim is worth more than the upper portal limit, it will normally exit the EL/PL Portal process and continue under the standard pre-action protocol for personal injury. Form EPL4 is specific to the low value portal, so once the claim has left that track, interim payments are usually pursued through correspondence or, where needed, a formal court application.
If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £89.
Sources
This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.
- Guidance · HMCTSPre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury (Employers' Liability and Public Liability) Claimsjustice.gov.uk
- Official SourceClaims Portal (EL/PL Portal)claimsportal.org.uk
- Guidance · HMCTSCivil Procedure Rules – Part 25 (Interim Remedies and Payments)justice.gov.uk
Legal helpline
Unsure how to handle an interim settlement pack?
Form EPL4 sits in the middle of a structured portal process, and getting the interim payment request right can make a real difference to how the rest of the claim plays out. An experienced legal adviser can talk you through how the interim stage works and what to think about, based on what you describe on the call.
- A plain-English explanation of the interim settlement stage for your specific situation
- Practical perspective on what losses and evidence tend to matter at this point
- Answers to your specific questions about the EL/PL portal process
- Clarity on possible next steps based on what you describe
Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.