Legal experts in
Crime & Abuse Compensation Claims
Compassionately Assisting Victims in Securing Financial Justice
- Millions of pounds recovered for survivors of abuse and violence
- We are a leading legal specialists in this area.
- A risk-free and confidential process. No court attendance is required.
Need help but don’t want to call?
💬 Chat with us privately on WhatsApp – it’s fast, secure, and 100% confidential.
We listen. We care.
Request a Call Back
No win no fee = no risk to you. Complete this simple form to speak to us in confidence.
Trusted Voices
What Our Partners Say
Our Services
We’re here to help
Domestic Violence Compensation
Nobody should have to experience violence in the home. Find out how to make domestic violence compensation claims with Criminal Injuries Helpline.
Sexual Abuse Compensation
Our sexual abuse solicitors are specially trained in cases just like yours, and will help you to get the compensation you deserve.
Rape Compensation
When you’ve suffered a traumatic experience, you may feel as though there is nowhere to turn. The team at Criminal Injuries Helpline is here to listen to you.
Use our simple
Compensation Calculator
Testimonials
What Other Survivors Say
We’ve helped Thousands of people to get their lives back on track with Financial Help.
Client Stories
See the Journeys of Resilience, Empowerment, and Justice
How We Can Help
- Recover from £1,000.00 to £500,000.00 in compensation
- We work on a no win no fee basis with no risk to you.
- We do everything on your behalf in a sensitive and confidential way
- We claim directly against a scheme so the perpetrator never knows
GET READY TO
TAKE BACK CONTROL
What is a CICA Claim?
Criminal Injury Compensation claims are available to victims of violent crimes. The compensation is paid by the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority and covers a range of violent crimes such as assault, domestic violence, sexual abuse and mental injuries following such crimes. The claim can also cover loss of earnings and special expenses if they have resulted directly from the crime. Payments start from £1,000 and range all the way up to £500,000.
Who is the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) are a government body funded by the tax payer. Established in 1964 they aim to help survivors of violent crimes recover compensation for their injuries and losses. The CICA work on a tariff of injuries in order to determine the amount of compensation a survivor will receive. The CICA will assess police and medical evidence to determine if a survivor would qualify for the claim.
How did CICA claims come to be?
The Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme that exists today was created in 1995 under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act. The previous version of the scheme created in 1964 was based on common law damages. Noting the drawbacks of this, in 1994, the government announced that this existing scheme would be replaced with the new tariff based system. The government wanted to create a less time consuming and tangible way to assess claims from survivors of violent crimes. The government wanted this new scheme to be clearer and easier to navigate for those applying. The Scheme was amended in 2012 to specify that those with unspent criminal convictions would not be able to make a claim.
Who qualifies for a CICA claim?
Survivors Of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence will affect 1 in 5 adults in the UK. Recongising this issue the CICA offers compensation for those that have suffered this heinous crime. This can be for a single incident where the applicant has received a qualifying injury or for a period of abuse where the applicant has sustained a number of injuries through a period of time. You can find more information on domestic violence eligibility here.
Victims Of Assault
Assault can leave you experiencing a number of different feelings. Many may seek a simple apology, justice or financial compensation as a way to gain closure. The CICA offer compensation to those who have been victim of an assault. If the victim has sustained an injury covered by the scheme they could be entitled to make a claim. For more information on assault eligibility click here.
Survivors Of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse leaves a devastating impact on the survivor who is left to pick up the pieces. Justice isn’t always available through the traditional sense but financial justice can be available through criminal injury compensation. For more information on making a claim for sexual abuse click here.
Survivors Of Historical Abuse
Historical abuse can have a severe impact on the survivors mental health for years after the incident. Though the CICA do impose a two year time limit on claims, a survivor could still be able to make a claim if they can show the incident still affects their life to this day. For more information on how a claim for historical abuse can be made click here.
Examples of CICA payouts
1) Our client was awarded £75,551.32 for a claim of historical abuse. The CICA awarded her £13,500 for the mental injury she had endured following the abuse. £55,794 for past loss of earnings and £6,357.32 for future loss of earnings.
2) Our client sadly came to us following an incident of rape. Though she was out of the two year time limit by a number of years we were able to show the incident still affected her to this day. She was awarded £11,000 from the CICA.
3) Our client suffered a violent single incident assault. He suffered a severe injury to his leg as a result of this. The CICA awarded £4,600.
What are CICA Tariffs and how do they work?
The CICA have set out a tariff system for amounts awarded for specific injuries. This system is fixed which means the amount will remain the same for each injury for every applicant.
- The maximum compensation amount is £500,000.
- The maximum compensation amount for loss of earnings is £265,000.
- The maximum compensation amount for fatal cases is £11,000 for bereavement and £22,000 for dependency.
Compensation for Common Injuries
Here is a table of some examples of CICA Payouts for some common injuries covered by the CICA:
| Injury | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| Fractured skull | £1,500 – £11,000 |
| Broken nose | £1,500 – £3,000 |
| Whiplash injury | £1,000 – £4,000 |
| Loss of hearing in one ear | £2,000 – £37,000 |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | £1,000 – £88,000 |
| Sexual assault | £2,000 – £22,000 |
Compensation for Domestic Violence
The CICA provide compensation amounts for patterns of physical abuse. This includes repeated incidents where minor injuries such as cuts and bruises have been sustained.
Here is a table of CICA payouts for patterns of abuse:
| Type Of Abuse | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| Serious | £2,000 |
| Severe | £5,500 |
| Severe (more than three years) | £8,200 |
Compensation for Sexual Offences
The CICA provides specific compensation amounts for victims of sexual offences, which can include rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse.
Here is a table of CICA payouts for sexual offences:
| Sexual Offence | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| Rape or assault resulting in pregnancy | £11,000 – £44,000 |
| Rape or assault without penetration | £11,000 – £33,000 |
| Sexual assault | £2,000 – £22,000 |
| Sexual abuse | £8,000 – £44,000 |
What does the CICA claim process look like?
1) Initial Application
The first step of the process is to complete the initial application form online, a paper copy is also available on request. It is important to take your time as incomplete or incorrect information can affect your claim.
2) Request For Supporting Evidence
Following the initial application the CICA will request supporting evidence in order to assess your claim. This can include medical and police reports and any other documentation relating to the incident. You may also need to provide evidence of medical bills and lost earnings if this is relevant to your claim.
3) Application Review
The CICA will then review your application and all supporting evidence. They will then look to make a decision on whether you would be eligible for compensation. The CICA may need to request further information from you to be able to make this decision.
4) Decision On Compensation
The CICA will issue you with a decision letter. This will state whether you have been awarded compensation and the amount of such, or will inform you the claim has been rejected.
5) Appeal Process
If you’re not happy with the decision you could appeal it. You must submit this to the CICA within 90 days of the decision and include additional evidence and information to support this.