The Victims' Payments Board was established in February 2021 and is designed to assess applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme. The Scheme, after a long period of campaigning by victims and their advocates, is responsible for delivering a pension to those individuals who were severely physically or psychologically injured during the Northern Ireland conflict.

Speaking on her appointment to the Victims' Payments Board, Dr. Lawther conveyed the importance of the scheme: 'I am delighted to be appointed to the Victims' Payments Board. By making available a pension to those individuals severely injured during the Northern Ireland conflict, the Scheme has the potential to make an enormous difference to lives of victims and survivors. Alongside offering some degree of financial support, the provision of a pension is also acknowledgment of the harm caused and the repercussions of that injury across the years. Being able to play a small part in the administration of the Scheme is not only important, but a privilege'.